When Christian Hackenberg finished the 2015 season at Penn State, he turned pro after his junior year, hired a personal coach and a fitness trainer and a nutritionist, and moved to Southern California in early January. For 2½ months, he lived like an NFL quarterback, sans team practices and games.
He started at 5:30 a.m. with film study, followed by passing drills on the field, a workout in the gym, and an evening homework assignment from his coach, usually involving more film breakdown. He ate well, as prepared meals were delivered to his condo in Dana Point.