Penn State RB Carson Hansen had a lot of doubters through the first seven games of the season.
Hansen didn’t hit his stride during September and for most of October.
Through the first seven games, Hansen eclipsed 50 yards twice and never went for more than 84 (against Temple in Week 2).
Then, against Purdue Oct. 31, things started to click for both Hansen and Penn State. He gained 96 yards on 17 carries with a touchdown in PSU’s 31-17 win.
It got better the next week against Washington.
Hansen eclipsed 100 yards, going for 119 on 14 carries with a touchdown.
Through all of this, Hansen still had his doubters.
Some dismissed the Purdue game as a byproduct of one big run (42 yards).
Some dismissed the Washington performance because of Washington’s run defense.
But 126 yards on 12 carries and a touchdown in one half of football is impossible to ignore, and if Hansen hasn’t won everybody over by now, that’s their problem.
‘THE SAME GUY’
Photo courtesy of Matt Lynch, Nittany Sports Now
The results have changed, but the person hasn’t.
“Nothing’s changed,” QB Rocco Becht told reporters afterward. “I think he’s just been able to make it happen now, and super proud of that guy and what he’s been able to do.”
Hansen’s had some highlight reel runs throughout this hot streak.
After the 42-yarder against Purdue, Hansen had a 36-yarder against Washington and a 46-yarder against Minnesota.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.To put things into perspective, no Penn State back had a 10-yard run through the first four Big Ten games.
Hansen has helped change that, and his spin move is a signature.
“He’s able to make those types of plays,” Becht said. “All of our all of our guys on our team are able to make those types of plays, but Carson is just a gamer. He goes out there, loves football, and just wants to help the team win.”
‘IT STINKS THAT HE GOT BANGED UP’
The only downside to Hansen’s night was that it didn’t last longer. He limped off the field toward the end of the first half, and with Penn State up 28-0, there was no reason to send him back out for the second.
“I think he’ll be all right,” coach Matt Campbell told reporters after. “I don’t think it’s a significant injury, but we’ll certainly know more probably earlier this week about his availability next week.”
Hansen wasn’t available to media after the game due to the injury, but Campbell’s update was overall good news.
Talking about what happened before the injury, Campbell said the early season struggles were due largely to other factors.
“Honestly, this guy is the same guy all the time,” Campbell said. “I think it was more the people around him than it was Carson early in the season, and just consistently getting the running game to where we needed it to get to.”
Penn State came into the year with four starting offensive linemen that were either new to the program or had never been regular starters before, and those things tend to take time to gell.
“Again, trying to put together the five offensive linemen, finding the consistency — what do they do best? — and trying to work through that. That’s been a work in progress, but we got there. Credit to the players, credit to our staff,” Campbell said.
Campbell watched Hansen rush for 100 or more yards in Iowa State’s last five games last season.
So, no, he isn’t suprised by this.
“Obviously, my belief in Carson Hansen… What he’s been about, what he stands for — man, I thought he was unbelievable,” he said. “Obviously, it stinks that he got banged up because it had a chance to be a really powerful game for him, for sure.”
