Penn State Football Players of the Game vs Akron
By Marty Leap
On Saturday afternoon the Penn State football team started their 2017 season with a victory over the Akron Zips, here is a look at the players of the game.
Penn State football is back, yay! On Saturday afternoon the sixth-ranked Nittany Lions decimated the Akron Zips by a score of 52-0 to start the season 1-0. This was Penn State’s first shutout victory in their season opener since defeating Florida International by a score of 59-0 to start the 2007 season.
This was a game that was even more of a blowout than the score indicated. Outside of a missed field goal and an interception in the end zone, the Nittany Lions played a near perfect game and did exactly what a national championship contender should do against a MAC team.
Here are Penn State’s players of the game from their season opening romping of Akron.
Offense – Running Back Saquon Barkley
Is it really surprising that Saquon Barkley started the season with a huge game? Barkley is the best running back in college football and arguably the best player regardless of position. After Saturday, his 2017 Heisman campaign is off to a great start.
Barkley carried the ball 14 times for 172 yards and a pair of touchdowns on Saturday. This included a trio of incredible highlight reel runs. His long run of the day went for 80 yards and was one of the most impressive runs anyone will see all season.
On Saturday, Barkley also caught three passes for 54 yards. Saquon Barkley averaged 13.3 yards per touch on Saturday and looked every bit the Heisman contender that he is. Things could not have gone much better for Barkley on Saturday.
Honorable mention – QB Trace McSorley, TE Mike Gesicki
Defense – Defensive End Ryan Buchholz
One of the few question marks for the 2017 Nittany Lions is defensive end. Well, redshirt sophomore Ryan Buchholz did a good job of helping to answer some of those questions on Saturday afternoon.
Buchholz finished the game with four tackles, 1.5 tackles for a loss, a sack, and he forced a fumble. He also had a relentless motor on Saturday afternoon and helped to blow up multiple other plays.
If Saturday’s performance from Ryan Buchholz was any indication of what is to come from him this season, the Nittany Lions will be in very good shape at defensive end.
Honorable mention – CB Amani Oruwariye, LB Manny Bowen
Special Teams – Wide Receiver DeAndre Thompkins
With John Reid out for the season with a knee injury, DeAndre Thompkins has taken over as Penn State’s primary punt returner. The decision to go with Thompkins has quickly paid off for James Franklin and company.
Thompkins returned four punts on Saturday for a total of 127 yards for an average of 31.8 yards per return. Additionally, Thompkins scored the Nittany Lions’ first touchdown of the season when he returned Akron’s first punt of the game 61 yards for a touchdown.
The punt return touchdown by Thompkins was Penn State’s first since Derrick Williams in 2008. If DeAndre Thompkins can become a threat in the return game for the Nittany Lions this season that just adds yet another dynamic to an already lethal Nittany Lion offense.
Honorable mention – K Tyler Davis, P Blake Gillikin
That will do it for this week. The 2017 season could not have gotten off to a much better start for the Nittany Lions. Now it is full steam ahead toward in-state rival Pitt and earning some revenge next week.