Saquon Barkley Was Set to Help Coach at PSU

According to CBS Sports' Ben Kercheval, New York Giants star running back Saquon Barkley was set to return to Penn State University during this offseason before the COVID-19 pandemic to help coach the Nittany Lions football team. Barkley was a superstar running back with Penn State before being selected in the first round of the NFL draft by the Giants.

Barkley wanted to help out the Penn State offense under coach James Franklin.  However, according to Kercheval's article coach Franklin during an interview with the New York Post said Barkley "wanted to come and spend spring ball with us as a coach.  He wanted to sit in all of the coaches meetings to see how we came up with the game plan, how we watch film and all the things we discuss"

According to the story Barkley wanted to learn more about football and view it from a different aspect than that as a player.  Barkley has no plans to give up his professional football career.  He planned to stay with his college camp until meetings and practice beckoned from the New York Giants. Then, the Coronavirus struck and the only impact Barkley had was on a conference call.

Barkley has had a big start in his National Football League career where he rushed for over 1,000 yards in each of his first two seasons.  At Penn State he carried the football for 3,843 yards and scored 43 touchdowns.

Barkley has emerged as one of the premier talents in the NFL.  The Giants are counting on him to have a huge third season.  So far despite the restrictions from COVID-19 the NFL has not changed its schedule.

[via CBS Sports]