At one point in his Penn State career, quarterback Christian Hackenberg was considered a potential NFL first-round contender.
Fast forward to 2019, it reaches a new professional low point. The number 51 choice of the New York Jets in 2016 has never been launched nor is it going for the NFL and has been seen for the last time of the season in the league on the coaching team. Cincinnati Bengals in 2018.
Hackenberg at the AAF bench
He recently signed with the Memphis Express of the new alliance of American football. But he lost his managerial position Monday, when head coach Mike Singletary announced that LSU's former quarterback, Zach Mettenberger, would be starting next week.
Hackenberg went 8-for-14 with 88 yards and two interceptions in the first half of Saturday's 21-17 loss to the Orlando Apollos. Singletary replaced Hackenberg with Mettenberger, but the Express was leading 9-0 at halftime.
Mettenberger wins his post after the big Sunday
"Mettenberger has suffered a lot and he fights every day to be the best possible," Singletary told reporters on Monday. "He studies like crazy, he's a leader."
Mettenberger organized a rally with 120 yards and two touchdowns in the second half.
"The elevator that Zach offered to the team last week, it was a great feeling," said Singletary. "See a young man play, play and really change the dynamism of the game. We just have to organize a whole game."
11PICTURES
Scenes of the opening weekend of AAF
See gallery
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – FEBRUARY 9: Kenneth Farrow II # 20 of the San Antonio Commanders marks a fourth-quarter touchdown against the San Diego fleet in a match of the American Football Alliance at Alamodome on February 09, 2019 at San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez / AAF / Getty Images)
FLORIDA, FL – FEBRUARY 09: Austin Apollo's # 5 Austin Appleby blurs with the ball against Brandon Watts # 58 of Atlanta Legends during the fourth quarter on Feb 09, 2019 in Orlando, Florida. The Apollos defeated Legends 40-6. (Photo by Sam Greenwood / AAF / Getty Images)
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA – FEBRUARY 10: Rajion Neal's No. 34 Memphis Express is shot down by Jonathan Massaquoi's No. 57 Birmingham Iron during a match of the American Football Alliance at Legion Field on Feb. 10, 2019 at Birmingham, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox / AAF / Getty Images)
TEMPE, AZ – FEBRUARY 10: Jhurell Pressley # 26 Arizona Hotshots scores a touchdown in front of Will Davis No. 26 Salt Lake City Stallions in the second half of the US Football Alliance match at Sun Devil Stadium from Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall / AAF / Getty Images)
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA – FEBRUARY 10: The water is dropped on head coach Tim Lewis of Birmingham Iron as a result of a victory over the Memphis Express at a match of the year. 39: American Football Alliance at Legion Field on February 10, 2019 in Birmingham, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox / AAF / Getty Images)
TEMPE, AZ – FEBRUARY 10: Branden Oliver, Arizona Hotshots No. 81, carries the ball in the second half of the Alliance of American Football match against the Salt Lake Stallions at Sun Devil Stadium on Feb. 10 2019 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen / AAF / Getty Images)
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – FEBRUARY 9: Kenneth Farrow II's No. 20 San Antonio commanders celebrates with his teammates after scoring a fourth-quarter touchdown against the San Diego fleet in a match of the American Football Alliance to Alamodome on February 09, 2019 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez / AAF / Getty Images)
Orlando, Florida – Feb. 09: Charles Johnson No. 12 Orlando Apollos misses a pass attempt against Desmond Lawrence No. 23 of Atlanta Legends during the first quarter on February 09, 2019 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann / AAF / Getty Images)
Orlando, FL – FEBRUARY 09: Jalin Marshall No. 17 Orlando Apollos marks a touchdown reception in the second quarter against No. 20 Carlos Merritt and No. 40 Quincy Mauger of Atlanta Legends on February 09, 2019 in Orlando , in Florida. This is the first touchdown in the history of the AAF. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann / AAF / Getty Images)
Orlando, FL – FEBRUARY 09: Will Hill III # 33 of Orlando Apollos takes the pitch before the match against the Atlanta Legends on February 09, 2019 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann / AAF / Getty Images)
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – FEBRUARY 10: Birmingham's No. 11 Iron Quinton Patton takes the pitch at a US football game against the Memphis Express at Legion Field on February 10, 2019 in Birmingham, Alabama. (Photo by Joe Robbins / AAF / Getty Images)
