Will Graves - Footballs New Wave: The Young Superstars Taking Over the Game

Footballs New Wave: The Young Superstars Taking Over the Game 2020 by Press Room Editions. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever, including internet usage, without written permission from the copyright owner, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

First Edition

First Printing, 2019

Book design by Sarah Taplin

Cover design by Sarah Taplin

Photographs : Damian Strohmeyer/AP Images, cover (center), 1 (center); Reed Hoffmann/AP Images, cover (left), 1 (left); Scott Boehm/AP Images, cover (right), 1 (right), back cover; Adam Hunger/AP Images, 4; Bill Kostroun/AP Images, 9; Jeff Roberson/AP Images, 12, 16; Jeff Haynes/Panini/AP Images, 20, 25; Mark J. Terrill/AP Images, 28; Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP Images, 33; Paul Sancya/AP Images, 36; Bruce Kluckhohn/AP Images, 42; Josie Lepe/AP Images, 44; Ben Margot/AP Images, 50, 99; Jack Dempsey/AP Images, 52; Michael Dwyer/AP Images, 5859; David Richard/AP Images, 62; Carolyn Kaster/AP Images, 68; Mike McCarn/AP Images, 70; Mark LoMoglio/AP Images, 76; Lynne Sladky/AP Images, 78; Phelan M. Ebenhack/AP Images, 84; John Bazemore/AP Images, 86; Perry Knotts/AP Images, 92; Don Wright/AP Images, 94; Kevin Terrell/AP Images, 102; James D. Smith/AP Images, 108; Matt Patterson/AP Images, 110; Kirby Lee/AP Images, 114115

Design Elements : Shutterstock

Press Box Books, an imprint of Press Room Editions.

Library of Congress Control Number: 2019937099

ISBN

978-1-63494-090-0 (paperback)

978-1-63494-091-7 (epub)

978-1-63494-092-4 (hosted ebook)

Distributed by North Star Editions, Inc.

2297 Waters Drive

Mendota Heights, MN 55120

www.northstareditions.com

Printed in the United States of America

Chapter 1

Saquon Barkley

S aquon Barkley took a look at the board that listed all the weightlifting records for Penn State running backs and thought to himself, I know I can get all that.

Just a freshman at the time, Barkley wanted to make a strong first impression with the Nittany Lions. He knew the school had a long history of producing star running backs in the National Football League (NFL), from Pro Football Hall of Famer Franco Harris to former All-Pro Larry Johnson.

Barkley believed he could be next in the line.

All those guys are amazing, Barkley said. And I wanted to at least be mentioned in the same category as those guys.

Barkley did more than that during his career with the Nittany Lions. He created a category all his own, both on the field and off.

The player who once worried he wouldnt be strong enough or fast enough proved he was plenty of both. His eye-popping workouts at Penn State became stuff of legend. He set a school record in the summer before his junior season when he took a bar with 405 pounds loaded on it and lifted it off the ground and over his head, leading some to label him an athletic freak (in a good way).

All those workouts came with a purpose far beyond just showcasing Barkleys strength. He firmly believed they would help him become one of the most dangerous and dynamic players in football.

He was right.

Barkley spent three years at Penn State, setting school records for touchdowns (53) and all-purpose yards (5,538) while finishing second in rushing yards (3,843) and developing a reputation as an electrifying playmaker.

Hes the best football player Ive ever been around, Penn State coach James Franklin said.

Barkley opted to head to the NFL after his junior season. At the NFL combine, where players hoping to be drafted showcase their skills for scouts, Barkley put on a show. He bench-pressed 225 pounds 29 times. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.40 seconds. And his 41-inch vertical leap is better than most National Basketball Association (NBA) players.

Speed? Check. Power? Check. Athleticism? Check.

The only question about Barkley when the 2018 NFL Draft arrived centered on how high he would be taken. The Cleveland Browns had the top pick but were in serious need of a quarterback. The New York Giants had issues at quarterback, too, with two-time Super Bowl winner Eli Manning nearing the end of his career.

The Browns filled their quarterback need by taking Oklahomas Baker Mayfield. But when the Giants were on the clock, they wouldnt resist bringing Barkleywho was born in New York Cityhome.

At the end of the day, a great player is a great player, Giants general manager Dave Gettleman said. He is a touchdown maker. He is a threat to take it to the house every time he gets his hands on the ball.

Barkley made an immediate impression on fans and his new teammates. He earned the nickname SaQuads Barkley because of the massive quadriceps muscles in his legs.

Signature Move

Every great running back seems to have a signature move. When Barkley is in trouble, his first instinct is to treat an opponent like an obstacle in leapfrog. Barkley made a habit at Penn State of jumping over a would-be tackler much like a track star going over a hurdle on his way to the finish line. He discovered this talent during his freshman year at Penn State, when he soared over an Illinois defender for a touchdown.

I took off at, like, the 4-yard line, Barkley said. I was able to jump into the end zone. I wouldve gotten farther, but the guy kind of jumped up and hit me. After he hit me, my momentum just carried out, and it was kind of cool.

Barkley, however, stressed he doesnt want be known just for his high-flying antics.

I dont want to be known as a hurdler, he said. Im not a hurdler. Im a football player. I want to be known as a guy who breaks tackles; thats the whole objective of the game.

His quads are the size of my waist and whole upper body, Manning said. Ive never quite seen anything like it.

And the Giants have never seen anything quite like Barkley. He wasted little time proving he was more than just a workout phenom. In New Yorks 2018 preseason opener against Cleveland, he took a handoff from Manning and found his path blocked by a host of Browns. No biggie. Barkley shuffled his feet, slipped past a defender, and took off 39 yards down the sideline before being pushed out of bounds.

Barkleys play earned the respect of teammates and opponents alike.

I think his first game, watching him, I was like, OK, this kids got something, said seven-time Pro Bowl running back Adrian Peterson, who faced Barkley and the Giants twice in 2018 while playing for Washington. Each time I see him Im just like, OK, this guy can be really, really good.

Though New York struggled as a team in Barkleys rookie season, finishing 511, Barkleys play pointed to potentially better days ahead.

Barkley led the NFL in yards from scrimmage with 2,028, and his 1,307 rushing yards set a team rookie record.

Getting 1,000 yards in the NFL is an amazing accomplishment, and being the first rookie ever for the Giants to do that is an even bigger one, Barkley said. Its big because even though my name might go in the record book, its not just myself. Its the offensive line play and the guys in the running back room. All those guys have been a tremendous help.