Nov. 29, 2017
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA. - Junior running back Saquon Barkley is among the five finalist for the Walter Camp Player of the Year award. He is joined by Stanford's Bryce Love, San Diego State's Rashaad Penny, Louisville's Lamar Jackson and Oklahoma's Baker Mayfield on the list of finalists.
The 2017 Walter Camp Player of the Year will be announced on Thursday, Dec. 7 during the 6 p.m. edition of ESPN SportsCenter. The winner will be honored at the Walter Camp Football Foundation banquet Saturday, January 13.
The Walter Camp Trophy is awarded to the outstanding player of the year who has exemplified the qualities of self-discipline, unselfish team play, desire to excel, mature judgement and respect for leadership. He must be a dedicated competitor who has made effective use of his athletic talent to enhance the great American game of college football. His standout performance on the playing field must be accompanied by an equally strong effort to contribute to the betterment of the life of all his fellow human beings. He must exhibit an awareness of the need to fulfill his role as a leader. He must espouse the ideals adhered to by Walter Camp, the "Father of American Football."
Penn State has two Walter Camp winners in running back John Cappelletti, who won the award in 1973, and tailback Larry Johnson, who claimed the honor in 2002.
Saquon Barkley, RB, Jr./Jr., 5-11, 230, Coplay, Pa./Whitehall
- Selected as a finalist for the Paul Hornung Award, Maxwell Award, Doak Walker Award and Walter Camp Player of the Year Award.
- First-team all-conference running back.
- First-team All-Big Ten return specialist.
- Second-straight first-team All-Big Ten selection by the coaches and media.
- Marks the third all-conference honor of his career after first team bid in 2016 and second team berth in 2015.
- Is just the second running back in Penn State history to earn back-to-back first team honors, joining Curtis Enis (1996 & 1997).
- Is the first Penn State player to be named all-conference return specialist (added in 2015).
- Is 1-of-5 student-athlete in the FBS with four all-purpose plays of 80 yards or longer in 2017.
- Ranks No. 2 in the FBS and leads the Big Ten in all-purpose yards (179.50).
- Ranks No. 4 nationally and leads the Big Ten in kickoff return touchdowns (2).
- Ranks No. 10 in the FBS and leads the Big Ten in kickoff return average (28.4).
- Is the 24th FBS player to produce 1,000 rushing yards and 500 receiving yards in a season since 2000.
- Sits tied for No. 5 nationally and leads the Big Ten lead in total touchdowns (21).
- Is tied for No. 7 nationally and leads the Big Ten in scoring per game (10.5).
- Ranks No. 10 in the FBS and leads the Big Ten in rushing touchdowns (16).
- Owns nine games with 200-plus all-purpose yards in his career (four in 2016, five in 2017).
- His six Player of the Week honors in 2017 (four offensive, two special teams) are the most in a single season in Big Ten history.
- Is tied for the program single season record with two kickoff return touchdowns, equaling the marks of Chuck Peters (1940), Curt Warner (1980) and Derrick Williams (2008).
- Ranks No. 2 on the single season all-purpose yards list with 2,154 yards in 2017, just the second player in program history to eclipse the 2,000 all-purpose yard mark (Larry Johnson, 2,655; 2002).
- Set the single game all-purpose yards mark with 358 at Iowa (9/23/17), accounting for 211 yards rushing, 94 yards receiving and 53 yards on kickoff return, topping Curt Warner's previous mark of 341 vs. Syracuse in 1981.
- Earned Midseason All-America honors from The All-American, Associated Press, CBSSports.com, ESPN.com, Sporting News, Sports Illustrated (RB & all-purpose)and USA Today.
- Named Big Ten Co-Offensive Player of the Week (Barrett, OSU) on Sept. 4 after rushing for 174 yards and totaling 246 all-purpose yards vs. Akron.
- Earned Big Ten Rose Bowl Player of the Week on Sept. 5 after his effort vs. Akron in the season opener.
- Selected to the Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll on Sept. 11 after posting 183 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns vs. Pittsburgh.
- Named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 25 after breaking the school record for all-purpose yards (358) vs. Iowa.
- Graded out as the top offensive player in the FBS during week four by Pro Football Focus to earn a spot on the National Team of the Week.
- The effort vs. Iowa also earned him Rose Bowl Big Ten Player of the Week and Maxwell Award Player of the Week, along with a spot on the Hornung Award Honor Roll and Pro Football Focus Big Ten Team of the Week.
- Named Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week and garnered a spot on the Hornung Award Honor Roll on Oct. 2 after posting 205 all-purpose yards vs. Indiana, including a 98-yard kickoff return for the touchdown to open the game.
- Garnered Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week, along with earning a spot on the Hornung Award Honor Roll, on Oct. 23 after piling up 176 all-purpose yards vs. Michigan.
- Added his second Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week Award on Oct. 30 after returning the opening kickoff for a touchdown at Ohio State.
- Garnered Big Ten Player of the Week and a spot on the Pro Football Focus Big Ten Team of the Week after logging 224 all-purpose yards vs. Nebraska (11/18).
- Scored a touchdown in 15-straight games from Oct. 29, 2016-Oct. 28, 2017, which set the Penn State school record, passing Curtis Enis' 14-game streak from 1996-97.
- Had a streak of nine-straight games with a rushing touchdown snapped vs. Georgia State, which was the longest streak by a Penn Stater since Larry Johnson had 11 in a row in 2002.
The Nittany Lions' bowl destination will be announced Sunday, Dec. 3. Fans can visit GoPSUsports.com/bowlcentral to submit a request for tickets for the bowl. The ability to request tickets does not guarantee a Nittany Lion Club member will receive tickets from Penn State's allotment.
Penn State season ticket renewals and Nittany Lion Club membership renewals also are underway for the 2018 campaign. The ticket invoice and Nittany Lion Club renewal deadline is Feb. 1, 2018. For information on joining the Nittany Lion Club and purchasing new 2018 season tickets, as well as club seating in Beaver Stadium, fans can visit www.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.
Nearly 1,600 new season tickets have already been sold for the 2018 campaign.