Christian Hackenberg has ‘different level of confidence’ in 2017

The New York Jets would love for Christian Hackenberg to have a great training camp and seize the starting job, and it sounds like the former Penn State star is in the right frame of mind to do just that.

With the Jets having signed 38-year-old Josh McCown, there has been speculation that the veteran could start in a bridge year in 2017. Hackenberg can prevent that from happening, however, and he said he feels energized this offseason because of the opportunity.

“There’s a different level of confidence,” Hackenberg told reporters on Monday, via Connor Hughes of NJ.com. “That also goes back to what we were saying about being in Year 2 — more comfortable in the situation. More comfortable walking in the building. More comfortable with the guys in the locker room, in the huddle.

“I just think that natural growth from a comfortability standpoint, walking in there, doing things, is more so what I think.”

If nothing else, McCown is a competitor. The Jets are the seventh team he has played for during his NFL career, and the previous six would tell you McCown is willing to play hurt and give a max effort at all times. But, again, the ideal scenario for New York would be their 2016 second-round pick taking a big step forward.

“I think it’s going to be really exciting,” Hackenberg added. “At the end of the day, that’s not my call. Whatever I have control over, that’s what I’m going to try and do to the best of my ability.”

Some reports we heard during Hackenberg’s rookie season made it seem like the Jets had no confidence in him, but those assessments seemed awfully harsh for a rookie. Even Joe Namath recently threw support behind the 22-year-old, so Hackenberg has to feel like he controls his own destiny. What he will do with it remains to be seen.