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Penn State Football: The Nittany Lions Top 5 NFL Draft Picks Since 2017

By Morgan Chapman

ARLINGTON, TX - APRIL 26: Saquon Barkley of Penn State poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being picked #2 overall by the New York Giants during the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft at AT&T Stadium on April 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX - APRIL 26: Saquon Barkley of Penn State poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being picked #2 overall by the New York Giants during the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft at AT&T Stadium on April 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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GLENDALE, AZ – DECEMBER 30: Saquon Barkley #26 of Penn State Nittany Lions leaps over defenders Austin Joyner #4 and Keishawn Bierria #7 of the Washington Huskies during the second quarter of the Playstation Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium on December 30, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. Penn State won 35-28. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ – DECEMBER 30: Saquon Barkley #26 of Penn State Nittany Lions leaps over defenders Austin Joyner #4 and Keishawn Bierria #7 of the Washington Huskies during the second quarter of the Playstation Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium on December 30, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. Penn State won 35-28. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /

At number 3 on my list comes Saquon Barkley. The most electrifying player I have ever seen on the football field. Saquon was drafted 2nd overall in the 2018 NFL draft by the New York Giants.

He went on to win the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year award  and he was selected to his first Pro Bowl in 2018. Everything was going right for Barkley, he was playing well he was living up to his expectations, but adversity struck in week 2 of the 2020 season when he suffered a torn ACL.

Because he was such a high draft pick his expectations were even higher. Many fans labeled him a bust between the 2020 and 2021 seasons, but the Penn State football community knew that once he returned from injury 100% healthy he would be back to the same old Saquon.

He bounced back last season setting a new career high in rushing yards with 1,312 yards. He was also selected as an All-Pro for the second time in his career. He is the most valuable player on the field when he’s healthy. I sure miss watching him light up Beaver Stadium in the fall.

In his Penn State football career Saquon had 3,843 rushing yards, 43 rushing touchdowns, 102 receptions for 1,195 yards, and 8 touchdowns. All those statics, a full highlight reel, and a ton of memories of 26 running wild.

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