Well, let me tell ya, Saquon Barkley sure made a name for himself. He didn’t end up winning that fancy Heisman Trophy back in 2017, but he sure came close. Now, I’m sure most folks heard about him, especially since he was one of the big names comin’ out of Penn State University, where he played like a man possessed. Finished fourth in the Heisman race that year—pretty good, if ya ask me. Not too many folks get that high, even if they don’t win it all. Heck, even though he didn’t take home the trophy, he still made history for the school. He was the first Penn State player to finish in the top-10 for the Heisman voting since Michael Robinson did it way back in 2005. And, if I remember right, Robinson came in fifth. Barkley’s fourth-place finish was the best the school had seen since Larry Johnson came in third back in 2002. So, it wasn’t no small feat, I’ll tell ya that much.
Now, for them that might not know, Saquon Barkley’s a big ol’ fella, standin’ 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighin’ in at a hefty 230 pounds. That’s a whole lot of muscle right there, and when he was runnin’ the ball, you could see every bit of it. He could run over folks, around folks, and even outpace ‘em if he had to. There wasn’t a whole lot that could stop him when he got goin’. He was a sophomore back when he was runnin’ for Penn State, and boy, was he somethin’ special to watch.
And, just in case you missed it, this fella has gone on to play in the NFL, too. He got picked in the first round of the NFL Draft by the New York Giants, makin’ a big ol’ splash right away. But we’re talkin’ about that 2017 Heisman race, so let’s stick to that for now.
The year 2017 was a wild one for college football, with all kinds of talent out there. Baker Mayfield ended up winnin’ the Heisman that year, and I can’t say I blame folks for pickin’ him. He had a mighty good season himself. But even though Barkley didn’t win, there’s no doubt he was right up there with the best of ‘em. Some folks even argued that he was the best player in all of college football that year, and you can’t deny that he was one of the most exciting to watch. You could feel the energy every time he got the ball.
When it comes to his skills, well, he was a complete package. I mean, he wasn’t just a big ol’ runner—he could catch the ball, too. That’s not something you see from just anybody in the backfield, but Barkley made it look easy. You could throw him the ball, and he’d make plays just as well as if he were carryin’ it himself. It didn’t matter if it was runnin’ between the tackles or takin’ it to the outside; Barkley had the speed and strength to get the job done. You put that together with his vision on the field, and well, it’s no wonder folks were excited about him.
Now, don’t go thinkin’ he’s all about the glory, neither. A lotta folks in the Penn State community—and beyond—saw the hard work and dedication that went into gettin’ to that level. Barkley was no slouch. He put in the time, the effort, and it paid off for him. I reckon that’s one reason so many folks hold him in high regard. Ain’t no fluke when you get to the top like that, even if you don’t take home all the fancy trophies.
But let’s not forget, not every great player gets the Heisman. A lotta folks get passed over or come up short, but they still go on to do mighty fine things in their careers. That’s the funny thing about the Heisman—sometimes it don’t always go to the best player, but to the one who had the best season in the right moment. So, even though Barkley didn’t win, his place in the history books is secure, and his future in the NFL is bright.
So, to wrap it up, Saquon Barkley might not have brought home the Heisman, but he sure showed the world he was a force to be reckoned with. I reckon folks’ll be talkin’ about him for years to come, whether he won the big trophy or not. He’s a player who’s left his mark, and that’s somethin’ to be proud of, no matter how the Heisman vote turned out.
Tags：[Saquon Barkley, Heisman, Penn State, 2017 Heisman, NFL Draft, College Football, Running Back, Heisman Voting, New York Giants, Baker Mayfield]
