Football's New Wave: The Young Superstars Taking Over the Game
CHAPTER 1 Saquon Barkley Saquon Barkley took a look at the board that listed all the weightlifting records for Penn State running backs and thought to himself I know I can get all that Just a freshman at the time Barkley wanted to make a strong first impression with the Nittany Lions He knew the school had a long history of producing star running backs in the National Football League NFL from Pro Football Hall of Famer Franco Harris to former All-Pro Larry Johnson Barkley believed he could be next in the line All those guys are amazing Barkley said And I wanted to at least be mentioned in the same category as those guys Saquon Barkley barrels down the field for another first down for the New York Giants
Barkley did more than that during his career with the Nittany Lions He created a category all his own both on the field and off The player who once worried he wouldn’t be strong enough or fast enough proved he was plenty of both His eye-popping workouts at Penn State became stuff of legend He set a school record in the summer before his junior season when he took a bar with 405 pounds loaded on it and lifted it off the ground and over his head leading some to label him an athletic freak in a good way All those workouts came with a purpose far beyond just showcasing Barkley’s strength He firmly believed they would help him become one of the most dangerous and dynamic players in football He was right Barkley spent three years at Penn State setting school records for touchdowns 53 and all-purpose yards 5,538 while finishing second in rushing yards 3,843 and developing a reputation as an electrifying playmaker He’s the best football player I’ve ever been around Penn State coach James Franklin said FOOTBALL’S NEW WAVE
Barkley opted to head to the NFL after his junior season At the NFL combine where players hoping to be drafted showcase their skills for scouts Barkley put on a show He bench-pressed 225 pounds 29 times He ran the 40-yard dash in 4 40 seconds And his 41-inch vertical leap is better than most National Basketball Association NBA players Speed Check Power Check Athleticism Check The only question about Barkley when the 2018 NFL Draft arrived centered on how high he would be taken The Cleveland Browns had the top pick but were in serious need of a quarterback The New York Giants had issues at quarterback too with two-time Super Bowl winner Eli Manning nearing the end of his career The Browns filled their quarterback need by taking Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield But when the Giants were on the clock they wouldn’t resist bringing Barkley who was born in New York City home At the end of the day a great player is a great player Giants general manager Dave Gettleman said He is a touchdown maker He is a threat to take it to the house every time he gets his hands on the ball THE YOUNG SUPERSTARS TAKING OVER THE GAME
