Penn State alum Saquon Barkley named Sporting News' Offensive Player of the Year: Newsstand
Penn State news, notes, and updates for Jan. 31 include another honor for Saquon Barkley, headlines of the day, and more. It’s time to dive into Friday’s top tweets and headlines about the Nittany Lions and college athletics.
Penn State tweets of the day
Saquon Barkley is already a finalist for the 2024 NFL MVP trophy and the winner of the Pro Football Writers’ Association’s offensive player of the year honor. The Sporting News has bestowed that title upon the Penn State alum, as well. Barkley has put together a historic season in his first year with the Philadelphia Eagles. According to SN, he is the fourth consecutive non-quarterback to be its OPOY.
“He’s only the second Eagles player to win Sporting News NFL Player of the Year, 70 years since it was first awarded in 1954, following quarterback Norm Van Brocklin in 1960,” Vinnie Iyer writes. “He is the first Eagle to receive this honor since the award was split into separate offensive and defensive honors in 2008.
“Barkley follows recent non-quarterback winners Tyreek Hill (2023), Justin Jefferson (2022), and Jonathan Taylor (2021), getting the nod that previous recent NFL rushing leaders Christian McCaffrey and Josh Jacobs didn’t get. Barkley got noticed for his big rushing total and bigger plays to lead the Eagles’ run-heavy offense, ending multiple seasons of frustration with his first team. He received 369 votes from his fellow players, almost twice as much as second-place finisher Josh Allen (188 votes).”
Top 10
- 1
LSU-OU WBB fight
Multiple ejections after dust up
- 2Hot
Pearl needles Alabama
Auburn coach had to say it
- 3
Cam Newton
Arch Manning, Saban to Cowboys
- 4
Arch Manning NIL
Texas QB signs with Red Bull
- 5
ACC, ESPN extension
New deal reached through 2036
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Barkley and the Eagles face Kansas City in the Super Bowl next Sunday.
Headlines of the day
Penn State offseason storylines: How will the Lions replace two elite secondary pieces?: Flounders, PennLive
Penn State lands eight signees in final On300 rankings for the Class of 2025: Fitz, BWI
Get to know Penn State’s 2025 transfer portal additions: Alenstein, Daily Collegian
What’s the Penn State-Iowa wrestling point spread, and where are the Lions in the latest rankings?: Pickel, BWI
College Football Playoff predictions: Which teams return in 2025 from Ohio State to Clemson?: Toppemyer, USA Today
Penn State TE Andrew Olesh earns five-star rating from On3 in final 2025 rankings: Snyder, BWI
Unveiling the final 2025 On300 rankings: Power, On3
Quote of the day
“A quarterback is the most important position in football,” Pollack admitted. “There’s no doubt about it. There’s also a lot to be said for guys to get quarterbacks on the ground, and that’s a really important position. And I think if we’re talking about the guy who does his craft the best in this draft, I’m not taking any of these quarterbacks over No. 11. I’m riding with Abdul Carter, and it’s not it’s not debatable for me.”
–David Pollack on why he believes Abdul Carter should be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
