(WSCR) This seems hard to believe, but the child sexual abuse scandal at Penn State involving former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky is apparently giving Nittany Lions football recruits “motivation”.

“We’re building our own relationships, and nothing is going to get in the way of our goals,” Fork Union (Va.) quarterback Christian Hackenberg told The Patriot News. “I really don’t have any comment on that whole situation. That’s the same for a lot of us. That wasn’t us in any shape or form. That was the last staff. And, to be honest, we’re sort of using it as motivation.”

Hackenberg isn’t the only one.

“I think ignoring the outside, the negative press, and just focusing on what we can control. I think it’s focusing on the positive steps that the program and our class are making,” Cedar Cliff tight end Adam Breneman said. “In a way, it kind of encouraged me to go to Penn State, and our class is kind of taking that us-against-the-world mentality. We know the whole story is not all about football. We’re well aware of what’s happening. We’re doing everything we can to push forward.”

Both Hackenberg and Breneman are members of Penn State’s 2013 recruiting class.