UNIVERSITY PARK — A day after Penn State football coach Bill O’Brien made it known he’ll return to coach the Nittany Lions next season, the coach elaborated he couldn’t break an earlier vow to stay at Penn State despite receiving interest from multiple NFL teams.

“I have a lot of respect for the NFL and they reached out to my representatives and at the end of the day it’s right for me to do what I said I was going to do and that’s stay at Penn State and coach these players and work with this staff and do the best I can for Penn State,” O’Brien said on The Steve Jones Show.

The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer reported the Browns interviewed O’Brien earlier this week while multiple reports indicated the Philadelphia Eagles had interest in the first-year Penn State coach. O’Brien spent four seasons with the New England Patriots and was the team’s offensive coordinator during the 2011 season.

O’Brien sourced numerous reasons for wanting to stay at Penn State where he coached the Nittany Lions to an 8-4 record in his first season as a head coach.

“The group of players and the staff that I have there, obviously along with my family are the three biggest influences,” O’Brien said.

Hackenberg had confidence

Penn State’s coveted quarterback recruit Christian Hackenberg didn’t post remarkable numbers in Friday’s Under Armour All-America game — a contest dominated by two all-star defenses in St. Petersburg, Fla. — but he did shed light on his thought process during the last few days O’Brien’s coaching future was in question.

Hackenberg had faith all along.

“He’s a man of his word,” The Fork Union Military Academy star said. “He told us that earlier this month. I can’t be more proud of who I’m going to play for.”

Hackenberg helped lead the Black squad to a 16-3 win while sharing snaps with two other players. He’s expected to compete with second-year player Steven Bench and incoming junior college transfer Tyler Ferguson for the starting quarterback spot.

Hackenberg has not yet signed a letter of intent but O’Brien mentioned the upcoming quarterback battle in his interview with Jones.

“I think the key position for us is quarterback and who emerges at quarterback,” O’Brien said. “That’s going to be the biggest position for us to get up to speed as fast as we can.”

Ferguson will enroll at Penn State on Monday.

Farrell, Stanley added to All-Star rosters

Penn State announced offensive tackle Mike Farrell and defensive end Sean Stanley have been added to all-star game rosters and take part in two separate showcases later this month.

Farrell will suit up in the Casino Del Sol All-Star Game in Tucson on Jan. 11 while Stanley will take part in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl on Jan. 19 in Carson, Calif.

Penn State running back Michael Zordich was already named as a participant in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl.

Farrell started every game for Penn State as a senior while both he and Stanley were selected as All-Big Ten Team honorable mention picks by coaches and media.