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LOOK: Penn State asks Saquon Barkley for assessment of mimicked celebration

photos -jpgby:Ashton Pollard•09/23/21•

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When Derrick Tangelo made a huge play to start the third quarter of last Saturday’s game against Auburn, he channeled a Penn State legend to celebrate.

In a 2016 Penn State whiteout game against Iowa, former running back Saquon Barkley celebrated his score running through the end zone in a 41-14 thumping. 

Tangelo broke Barkley’s celebration back out on Saturday night following an Auburn fumble to start the second half. They attempted a receiver option throw by freshman Kobe Hudson, and Hudson lost the ball. 

Penn State turned the fumble into a touchdown four plays later. Penn State took a 21-10 lead, one which they ultimately held on to to win 28-20 and improve to 3-0.

Barkley was in the stadium Saturday night to watch his old team beat the Tigers, and he was even the guest picker on ESPN’s College GameDay that morning.

The running back’s Nittany Lion career

At Penn State, Barkley had a legendary career. Barkley recorded 3,843 rushing yards and 43 touchdowns in three seasons from 2015-2017. His rushing yardage number is second in school history behind Evan Royster, although he is the only player in the top five who played just three years in Happy Valley; everyone else had a fourth year. He holds the Nittany Lions record for most rushing touchdowns. 

In the passing game, Barkley recorded 1,195 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. He even contributed on special teams, recording 423 kick return yards and two touchdowns as a senior. 

Barkley was a consensus All-American in 2017, won the Paul Hornung Award and helped the Nittany Lions to a Fiesta Bowl victory over Sam Darnold and the USC Trojans. In 2016, he helped the team to a 38-31 victory over Wisconsin to win the Big Ten Championship Game. 

He was taken with the second-overall draft pick in 2018 by the New York Giants and was the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year that season.

Tangelo already making an impact

Tangelo, a welcomed Duke transfer this past season, started 27 games in Durham and amassed 114 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, five forced fumbles and two quarterback hurries. In 2020 alone, during which he started all 11 of Duke’s games, he forced three fumbles. In addition to the fumble recovery on Saturday, Tangelo has five tackles this season.

Tangelo, a Maryland native, had dreamed of playing soccer at Penn State in middle school. Although it was a different sport, on Saturday night, his dream became a reality.

“I felt like I was in a movie,” Tangelo said about getting to jog out onto the field during the Whiteout Game. “It was just a surreal moment for me. I will never forget it.”