Dec. 16, 2015
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA. - Freshman running back Saquon Barkley (Coplay, Pa.) picked up his second Freshman All-American honor with a selection to the Sporting News team Wednesday. He was also selected as a freshman first team honoree by USA Today.
Barkley claimed USA Today Freshman All-America honors and was selected by Sports on Earth as the top offensive freshman. He earned second team All-Big Ten accolades (coaches and media), as well as BTN.com Freshman of the Year honors. He broke the Penn State freshman season rushing record with 1,007 yards, surpassing the mark of 1,002 set by D.J. Dozier in 1983. He produced the 23rd 1,000-yard rushing season by a Nittany Lion and is the 14th player to accomplish the feat. Barkley has five 100-yard rushing performances on the season after clicking off 103 yards at Michigan State.
The native of Coplay, Pennsylvania ranks 28th in FBS in rushing yards per carry (6.1) and 31st in rushing yards per game (100.7). He is 18th in the country in rushes of 30 or more yards (6). Barkley leads the Big Ten and is tied for 15th in FBS in 20-plus yard rushing plays (13). His seven rushing touchdowns are tied with Dozier by the most by a Penn State true freshman. He ranks 43rd on Penn State's career rushing yards list. Barkley tallied 194 rushing yards against the then-No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes in Columbus, becoming just the second back to rush for more than 175 yards at Ohio State since 2000, joining Indiana's Tevin Coleman (228; 2014).
The Nittany Lions will square off against Georgia in the 71st TaxSlayer Bowl in Jacksonville, Florida on Saturday, Jan. 2 at noon. The game will air on ESPN, the Penn State Sports Network and GoPSUsports.com. For more information on tickets, ticket packages and bowl information, visit Penn State's Bowl Central at GoPSUsports.com/bowlcentral or call 1-800-NITTANY, weekdays from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Penn State season ticket renewals and Nittany Lion Club membership renewals also are underway for the 2016 campaign. The ticket invoice and Nittany Lion Club renewal deadline is Feb. 1, 2015. There will not be any increase in the price of Penn State football season tickets or Nittany Lion Club donation levels for next season. For information on joining the Nittany Lion Club and purchasing new 2016 season tickets, as well as club seating in Beaver Stadium, fans can visit PSUnrivaled.com, call 1-800-NITTANY weekdays from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. or visit the Bryce Jordan Center ticket office weekdays from 10 a.m-6 p.m.