Penn State RB Saquon Barkley To Forgo Senior Year, Enter NFL Draft

Follow KDKA-TV: Facebook | Twitter

STATE COLLEGE (KDKA/AP) -- Just one day after a Fiesta Bowl victory, Penn State running back Saquon Barkley announced he plans to enter the 2018 NFL draft.

Barkley posted a photo on his Instagram account Sunday evening with a statement thanking "Penn State Nation" for their support.

"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," Barkley said.

Farewell Penn State, thank you for everything! #WeAre ????

A post shared by Saquon Barkley (@sb_xxvi) on

The statement goes on to say, "After lots of thought, prayer and conversation with those closest to me, I have decided to forgo my senior season and enter the NFL Draft."

Barkley also says he plans to obtain a Penn State degree in the future.

Barkley ran for 1,271 yards and 18 touchdowns this season and had 52 catches for 642 yards. He also completed two passes - one for a score - and returned two kickoffs for touchdowns.

On Saturday in Glendale, Arizona, he ran for 137 yards and two touchdowns and caught seven passes for 38 yards in the No. 9 Nittany Lions' 35-28 victory over No. 12 Washington.

(TM and © Copyright 2017 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

Read more
f

We and our partners use cookies to understand how you use our site, improve your experience and serve you personalized content and advertising. Read about how we use cookies in our cookie policy and how you can control them by clicking Manage Settings. By continuing to use this site, you accept these cookies.