Oct. 31, 2016
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA. - Sophomore running back Saquon Barkley (Coplay, Pa.) is among the 18 semifinalists for the Maxwell Award, given by the Maxwell Football Club to the National Player of the Year. Penn State is tied for the national lead among all colleges and universities with its seven Maxwell Award winners.
The Maxwell Award, named in honor of Robert W. "Tiny" Maxwell, has been given to America's College Player of the Year since 1937. Maxwell's contributions to the game of football were extensive, including time as a player, a sportswriter and an official. Barkley leads the Big Ten and is 20th nationally in rushing yards per game, averaging 111.0 yards per outing. He is also tops in the conference and 16th in FBS in total touchdowns with 11. Barkley is a two-time Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week selection, earning the honor after the Maryland and Purdue games. He was also selected as the CBS Sports National Player of the Week following Saturday's dominating performance in West Lafayette.
The Coplay, Pennsylvania native has produced a pair of 200-yard performances in his last three games, including a career-high 207 markers at Purdue Saturday. Barkley is the first Penn Stater with multiple 200-yard rushing games since Larry Johnson had four in 2002. Barkley had six rushing touchdowns in his first three games of the season, which are the most by a Penn State player since Evan Royster had six in 2008. With 11 scores on the season, Barkley is the first Nittany Lion since Zach Zwinak (12, 2013) to score 10 or more touchdowns in a season.
Barkley ranks 19th on Penn State's career rushing list with 1,964 yards and sits No. 21 on the career rushing touchdowns chart (17). He set a sophomore single game record for all-purpose yards with 277 yards (207 rushing, 70 receiving) against Purdue. The mark is also 14th in program history. Barkley ranks No. 14 with eight career 100-yard games (five in 2015, three in 2016), including two 200-yard efforts. He has 60 rushes of 10 or more yards in his career (34 in 2015, 26 in 2016).
Semifinalist voting for both of the collegiate awards presented by the Maxwell Football Club will begin on Tuesday November 1 and will close on November 21. Three finalists for each award will be announced on November 22, 2016 and a second round of voting will take place at that time. Eligible voters include Maxwell Football Club members, NCAA head football coaches, sports information directors and selected national media.
Penn State is 6-2 overall and 4-1 in Big Ten play after the victory over the Boilermakers. The Nittany Lions are back in action at Beaver Stadium Saturday at 7:30 p.m. on Big Ten Network. The game will also air on the Penn State Sports Network and GoPSUsports.com (6 p.m. airtime).
Single game for the final two home games of the 2016 campaign are still available. To purchase tickets or for more information, fans can visit www.PSUnrivaled.com, call 1-800-NITTANY or visit the Bryce Jordan Center ticket office weekdays from 10 a.m-6 p.m.