Saquon Barkley's freshman season highlights and other Penn State haps

All right, my blog postings have been sporadic, to put it mildly, and that’s on me. Been a crazy few weeks, but I promise Imma start updating y’all more frequently with my extra Penn State nuggets and anything else I find interesting.

First, some extra ramblings from Saquon Barkley’s first media scrum (read my story first):

• While he said there was never a point last season when he felt he had become “the guy” for Penn State, he said the Buffalo game was the moment he felt like he could truly compete at the elite Division I level. Didn’t take him long, as that was just the second game of the season where Penn State won 27-14 and Barkley rushed for 115 yards and a touchdown on 12 attempts. His first score, aw.
• He said his hardest game was against Maryland, a narrow 31-30 win for Penn State. It was his first start, and he fumbled twice, running for only 65 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries. Barkley said Maryland did a good job of stopping the run, and it was the first time he had to be patient with himself and try to be calm in a tense situation.
• His favorite memory of his freshman season was coming out of the tunnel for the Rutgers game because it reminded him of when he was a recruit watching the White Out game from the stands and hoping he could one day be a Nittany Lion. Cue more awwwws.
• And on the infamous Anthony Zettel roundhouse kick of the water bottle that almost took him out, Barkley said, “If I hadn’t moved fast enough, I might not have even had a freshman season.” lmao
• My personal #hottake: seems like a nice kid. Also, Marcus Allen came behind him and shoved his head while he was talking in front of all the media, and Barkley was like, “REALLY?”

As far as James Franklin, he didn’t say much yesterday. He said the defense had it’s best day and is playing with more “personality,” with the linebackers and secondary disguising the pressures and not being as predictable. He lamented the colder weather (as a Minnesotan, I grow stronger every time someone complains about ”cold” weather in April). 

Andrew Nelson was at left tackle when Paris Palmer missed last practice, and the coaches liked what they saw. So they’re running with that switch for now. Noah Beh, Sterling Jenkins and Connor McGovern are all getting looks at tackle, too.

Also, before I forget, Matt Millen will be an analyst for the Big Ten Network for next Saturday’s 2 p.m. Blue-White game. For those of you who can’t make it to Beaver Stadium, it’ll be on tape delay on BTN at 7 p.m. or live on BTN2GO. There’s about a thousand replays, too, so check the schedule. The former Penn State defensive tackle is a four-time Super Bowl champ and joined the BTN broadcast team last year.

I’m sure you all have heard about the “No Talent Required” graphic debacle from last week. Franklin tweeted and deleted but not before people could raise an eyebrow at the essential ????-ness of the catchphrase. By my count, three journalists got the block from the coach on Twitter for pointing it out. He doesn’t even follow me, so I live to tweet another day.

I think that’s it for now. Feel free to reach out to my on Twitter or email if you have questions/concerns/conspiracy theories. Only a month until Captain America: Civil War is in theaters, my guys. Hope you’re all counting down.