On Saturday Evening time in Philadelphia, Saquon Barkley and Miles Sanders meet Inside the NFC Divisional Spherical, the epic subsequent stage of their NFL professions.
Barkley and Sanders, Professional Bowl working agains for The mannequin Ny Giants and Philadelphia Eagles, mixed for Greater than 2,500 yards dashing in seasons that represented a renaissance (Barkley) and a breakthrough (Sanders).
So It is distinctive to recall 5 yrs in the past, As quickly as they sat collectively as teammates for the final time, and Barkley handed the torch to Sanders at Penn State.
“Be reliable,” Sanders said, smiling, as Barkley started explaining what makes Sanders such An excellent working again.
Barkley and Sanders, who meet Inside the NFL playoffs for The primary time, performed collectively for the final time On the 2017 Fiesta Bowl. Barkley punctuated his Penn State profession by dashing for 137 yards and two touchdowns Inside the Lions’ 35-28 win over Washington.
After his farewell lap round College of Phoenix Stadium (now State Farm Stadium), Barkley returned to the locker room To debate his previous and future. He was Barely coy, having scheduled his announcement to enter the NFL Draft for The subsequent day, however did Guarantee everyphysique knew about Sanders sitting subsequent to him.
“[NFL] GMs might not Discover out about him but,” Barkley said, “however when he will get The prospect to shine, he undoubtedly will.”
Sanders rushed for 191 yards on 19 carries behind Barkley that season however definitely was about to emerge. He ran for 1,274 yards The subsequent yr, ending fourth Inside The huge Ten, To Wind up to be a second-round decide of the Philadelphia Eagles.
This season, his fourth Inside the NFL, has been Sanders’ biggest by far. He ranks fifth Inside the NFL in dashing, one spot behind Barkley, with 1,269 yards. Amongst agains with A minimal of 250 carries, Sanders ranks second (tied with Josh Jacobs) at 4.9 yards per carry.
Barkley, in the meantime, rushed for a profession-extreme 1,312 yards in his first actually full season since his 2018 rookie yr. He scored 10 dashing touchdowns, one fewer than Sanders, and caught 57 passes.
Barkley and Sanders Shall be centerpieces of Saturday Evening time’s playoff recreation, one factor Barkley simply Could have predicted then.
“This man is superb; He is a particular expertise,” Barkley said of Sanders after the Fiesta Bowl. “Clearly he hasn’t gotten the alternatives as a lot as he Want To level out his expertise, however we see it in apply. We see flashes of it.
“He’s strong, extremely effective, quick, A strong worker and He is humble. He Shall be An excellent again Finally and undoubtedly have a profession Inside the NFL Finally.”
Former Penn State working agains Miles Sanders (left) and Saquon Barkley Inside the locker room after the 2017 Fiesta Bowl. The sport marked their final Together with the Nittany Lions. Barkley, who rushed for 137 yards in a win over Washington, declared for the 2018 NFL Draft The subsequent day.
Mark Wogenrich
Five yrs later, Penn State has one other standout tandem of agains. Last season Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen mixed To hurry for 1,928 yards, the third-extremeest complete for a againfield duo since 1960.
Which makes Barkley’s parting phrases to Sanders resonate right now.
Scroll to Proceed
“You mans Will not be talking about Saquon Barkley for prolonged,” he said, earlier than telling Sanders, “save me some data.”
Take A look at the video above for extra from Barkley and Sanders after the 2017 Fiesta Bowl.
PENN STATE Adjust toers: SI Tickets is your one-sprime store for tickets to Pretty a Little bit of Penn State sporting occasions, from soccer to basketball, hockey to volleyball. Want tickets to the Penn State recreation? Take A look at SI Tickets.
Read More
Former Florida State receiver changes to Penn State
Drew Allar, Nicholas Singleton draw early Heisman Trophy odds
Pennsylvania’s prime lineagainer commits to Penn State’s 2024 recruiting class
Penn State’s change portal method? Endurance
Penn State makes staff change, lets go of receivers coach Taylor Stubblefield
Safety Keaton Ellis returns for 2023
Running again Keyvone Lee enters the change portal
For the subsequent Big Ten commissioner, a lesson from Penn State
“I am again,” declares lineagainer Curtis Jacobs
Defensive finish Adisa Isaac returning in 2023
For Penn State, A mannequin new ‘alignment’ breeds playoff hopes
Calvin Lowry returns to Penn State as an analyst
In 2022, Penn State returned from its two-yr detour
AllPennState is the place for Penn State information, opinion and perspective on the SI.com community. Writer Mark Wogenrich has coated Penn State for Greater than 20 yrs, monitoring three teaching staffs, three Big Ten titles and a catalog of good tales. Adjust to him on Twitter @MarkWogenrich. And think about subscribing (howeverton’s on The house Website) for extra good content material throughout the SI.com community.