Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/478201
S aquon Barkley recently was named Mr. Pennsylvania, a unique distinc- tion that goes to the state's best high school player and is decided upon by fans, media and coaches. It's a 4tting honor for someone who rushed for 1,851 yards, 8.6 yards per carry and 24 touchdowns while leading his team to an 8-3 record. In the process, Barkley put together an eye-catching highlight reel. Jukes, leaps, spins, high steps, kick returns, interceptions – his video has it all. "Talk to the other commitments and ask those guys," head coach James Franklin said, "and they love watching him play." In addition to being the newest large- school Mr. Pa., Barkley, a native of Coplay, holds another distinction over everyone else in the state: His is the most popular highlight reel. Dazzling film underscores Barkley's potential at PSU CLICK HERE to see video of Gonzalez in action. | the place for me," he said as he le7 cam- pus. Their relationship has only grown since, especially with Herb Hand. When Gon- zalez 4rst met him at the visit, he said Hand reminded him of Johnsen. Now that he's known his future position coach for more than a year, Gonzalez stands by that comparison in personality, style and tech- nique, which makes Gonzalez even more comfortable about his upcoming transition to college football. "We just get along really well," he said. "I'm used to his system already. Maybe [PSU's has] a little more passes than our high school, but it's the same run plays, kind of like Power-O and counters. So I'm used to the plays. I just need to get used to the terms and all of the signals and all of that." Gonzalez will study the playbook as much as he can before arriving on campus this summer, but he plans to fully immerse himself in the language once he gets there. He's already begun Penn State's workout program and is aiming to shed some weight before preseason practice. He's also fo- cusing on his 5exibility and improving agility. Listed at 6-foot-4 and 320 pounds, Gonzalez will begin his PSU career as an o6ensive guard, but Valdez said center is an option, too. Gonzalez is simply eager to get the pads on. "It's time to get to business," he said. "I'm ready for it. I'm preparing for it, and I'm just going to keep getting better and keep working." Valdez has no reason to doubt him. He has seen Gonzalez 4ght through a lot dur- ing the past couple years, and the prospect has shown no signs of backing down or altering course. If anything, it's helped propel him. "That's the type of kid that Penn State is going to get," Valdez said. "It's going to get a kid who is better on Tuesday than he was on Monday. If he does that for four or 4ve years, I mean, the sky is the limit for him." ■ MR. PENNSYLVANIA Barkley rushed for 1,851 yards and 24 touch- downs as a senior at Whitehall High. Photo courtesy of Rivals.com