Penn State QB opens up return from open-heart surgery

Penn State’s quarterback room is beginning to take shape now, but that isn’t something they could say earlier this year during spring practices. Most of the school’s top signal-callers were sidelined with injuries or medical issues, which forced some of the younger players at the position to step up.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Alex Manske was one of the players sidelined, except he was dealing with a potentially life-threatening ailment. He was at an increased risk for an aneurysm or a heart rupture, which forced him to undergo open-heart surgery.

The situation was obviously terrifying for the young quarterback who detailed his road to recovery recently. When speaking about being diagnosed with the condition, Manske told reporters, “I never felt like I’d get out of breath easy or anything like that. So it was definitely a surprise when I found it, and I’m glad that I found it.”

Finding out about a condition like that is difficult for anyone to come to grips with, but especially for a young athlete in incredible shape. But luckily Manske had a dedicated support system, telling reporters, “I had a lot of people texting me, a lot of the staff, a lot of players.”

That statement just speaks to the incredible family connection that Matt Campbell has helped foster between his players, and evidently his staff. Many athletes have spoken about the mental toll that being away from the field can take on a player, so the constant support from the Nittany Lions likely made a significant impact on Manske.

He went on to thank the school as a whole for helping to find out what was wrong with him, and now he looks forward to things getting back to normal. He’s out on the practice field and looking good by all accounts, so it sounds like the quarterback room is stable again. Even if it’s not all the way there yet, Manske’s recovery and return make the wait worthwhile.

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This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Penn State QB opens up return from open-heart surgery