Two former Penn State Football superstars in the NFL’s top 50 for merchandise sales
By Nick Kreiser
The NFL recently released the top 50 players in merchandise sales from the 2021-22 league year (March 1st, 2021 to February 28th, 2022), and there were two former Penn State Football All-Americans that made the list.
Running back Saquon Barkley and linebacker Micah Parsons were those two players.
Parsons was the higher of the two, coming it at No. 28. He was also one of just five defensive players to have cracked the top 50.
Barkley came in at No. 41 on the list.
It certainly helps that they play in New York and Dallas, two massive markets with massive fanbases, but it also helps that they played for Penn State. With such a large alumni network and fanbase, surely plenty of fans may have bought some of their apparel, regardless of who their favorite NFL team is.
The two former Nittany Lions have something else in common, as they both won NFL Rookie of the Year on their respective sides of the ball – Barkley in 2018, and Parsons in 2021.
They are also the two highest draft choices from Penn State under James Franklin, at No. 2 overall and No. 12 overall respectively.
It is somewhat surprising that there aren’t a couple more Penn State lettermen on the list, especially with players such as Miles Sanders and Pat Freiermuth playing for teams in Pennsylvania, where most football fans are probably Penn State fans on Saturdays, and Eagles or Steelers fans on Sundays.
Maybe next year a few more Nittany Lions can get on that list.
Jahan Dotson, potentially?
With Washington finally coming up with a new mascot – the Commanders – much of their fanbase might look to get some new gear with the new team name on it, and what better piece of apparel than a jersey of the first ever draft pick of the Washington Commanders?
Regardless, if only two Nittany Lions cracked this year’s list, it makes sense for it to have been Saquon Barkley and Micah Parsons. After all, they are inarguably two of the greatest to ever put on a Penn State Football uniform.
Next. Can the Nittany Lions continue their run of NFL Draft success in 2023?. dark
