Christian Hackenberg named Penn State's first-ever sophomore captain

Seven Penn State players were named 2014 season captains Wednesday, including quarterback Christian Hackenberg, who became the first sophomore captain in Nittany Lions history.

Quarterback Christian Hackenberg was among seven Penn State players were named 2014 captains on Wednesday. Hackenberg is the first sophomore captain in Nittany Lions history.

Hackenberg, who threw for 2,955 yards, 20 touchdowns and 10 interceptions last season, is the first non-senior captain for Penn State since 2005. He's also the second-youngest captain in team history after John Chuckran, who was a captain as a freshman in 1944 during World War II.

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Other players named captain include linebacker Mike Hull and defensive end C.J. Olaniyan on defense, guard Miles Dieffenbach on offense, and safeties Jesse Della Valle and Ryan Keiser and kicker Sam Ficken on special teams.

Penn State, still banned from postseason play through 2015 due to sanctions from the Jerry Sandusky scandal, went 7-5 last season, finishing third in the Big Ten Leaders division. The Nittany Lions open the 2014 season under new coach James Franklin on Aug. 30 against UCF in Dublin, Ireland.

- Ben Estes