'Once-in-a-lifetime' Penn State RB Saquon Barkley heads to NFL

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — After one final record-breaking performance, Penn State's unmatched running back announced he is turning pro a year early.

Saquon Barkley ripped the Washington Huskies in the Fiesta Bowl and then made it official on New Year's Eve what many had taken for granted for weeks, if not months: He will forego his final season as a Nittany Lion.

Barkley made all of the key plays yet again, big and small, in leading the Lions to a 35-28 victory in the home of the Arizona Cardinals. His 137 yards on 18 carries included one of his most memorable runs in his storied college career:

He raced 92 yards, nearly untouched, down the left side of the field to tie for the longest run in school history. He even led the team with seven receptions and threw in a few more stunning leaps, spins and cutbacks along the way.

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Of course, they were just the latest of so many highlights and achievements of arguably the greatest career by a Penn State running back, if not any player at the school.

And yet he may be remembered as much for the joy in which he played the game and the polite maturity in which he handled the spotlight on and off the field.

He made his announcement via Instagram Sunday evening. He thanked his family, Penn State fans, teammates, coaches and staff in his statement that read, in part, that "God has blessed me with the opportunity to pursue the dream I have had since I was a little kid of playing in the NFL.

“I hope I have left a lasting impression on this University, football program and community at large. It has been an honor and privilege to be able to call Penn State home and represent the Blue & White and all of the great players who came before me and will follow after me. I will continue to work each and every day to continue to represent Penn State the right way as I move on to the next phase of my life."

He also promised to finish his Penn State degree after leaving for the draft this spring.

Barkley's remarkable junior season truly got rolling with a scintillating performance in Iowa in which he broke the school record for all-purpose yards in a game. That shot him to the lead in the Heisman Trophy race.

"You know a guy's special when every time he gets the ball you hold your breath to see what exactly's going to happen," said Matt Limegrover, Penn State's offensive line coach. "He's always one hand-off away from doing the next spectacular thing." 

Though his production fell off in the second half as defenses focused their game plans around stopping him, he still earned several honors, including the Paul Hornung Award for college football’s most versatile player and Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year.

He finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting and became the 100th first-team All-American in Penn State history. He finished second on Penn State's all-time rushing list.

“Saquon Barkley is a once-in-a-lifetime type of player and it has been an honor to coach him and watch him grow into a fantastic young man,” Penn State head coach James Franklin said in a prepared statement. “Saquon has left a legacy both on and off the field that will long be remembered by the Penn State community."