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all the proof needed. Then you see how he's doing it: juking out of would-be tackles for loss, contorting his body for extra yards, hurdling – actually flying over – defenders and then plowing through them, carrying what appears to be the entire Penn State offense on his shoulders in games such as the 23-21 loss at Northwestern. Barkley has all the traits a running back wants to have in his arsenal, but he has something else: a sense of determination that out- shines his tremendous physical ability. That might be what's most unique about him. "He's got all the tools," strength and conditioning coach Dwight Galt said shortly after Barkley arrived on campus this past summer, emphasizing how the wide-eyed freshman ran the 40-yard dash in 4.47 seconds and benched 315 pounds six times during his very first test workout. "Big, fast, strong, great worker. Already shows good leadership. He's very inquisitive and he wants to do whatever he's got to do." Galt picked up on those latter qualities right away, from being around him less than a month. His parents noticed the same when he was just a youngster. That's just who he is, his mother, Tonya Johnson, explains. They're also the most immeasurable traits – the least compa- rable – and if anything, will eventually help lift Barkley to the status of some of those PSU greats that he's prematurely been measured against lately. Then someday Barkley will be the one to whom they're comparing that next breakout freshman. Until then, let's enjoy the ride, because if his first 133 carriers are any indicator, it's going to be a fun trip. And even if his spin moves resemble Ki-Jana's and power moves look like L.J.'s, let's save our gas on the comparisons. Saquon Barkley puts the work in; Saquon Barkley gets the credit. It's the individualism, the constant evolution from player to player, that makes sports, especially at the college level, so captivating, anyway. That goes for life, too, and even then we still have the urge to find resemblances instead of just letting someone be the individual they are. I caught myself just the other day, in fact, when meeting for the first time my two newborn nieces. They were barely able to open their eyelids, hiccups their only worry, and already, our family was searching for comparisons. "Oh, she has her mom's eyes," one of us would say, or "her dad's nose." As I sat and listened, offering opinions of my own, it occurred to me how inher- ently wrong we all were for even trying. Are there going to be resemblances? Of course. That's genetics. But no matter how hard anyone tries, each girl is grow- ing completely into her own. Nobody like them before, nor after, and that's the best part about it. At the unfortunate risk of comparing my baby nieces to a 222-pound football player, that's true for Barkley's college career, too. Let this thing unfold and see where it goes because he's off to a healthy start, and if he ever reaches the heights of his childhood inspirations, this is going to be fun to watch. Born in Bronx, N.Y., before moving to Pennsylvania and graduating from Whitehall High, Barkley grew up a fan of the NFL's New York Jets. He used to watch games closely with his father, Al- ibay, as Curtis Martin became the fourth- leading all-time rusher in Jets history. When Barkley started playing youth football at 8 years old, Martin was the guy he emulated. "But," his mother said, "Barry Sanders is his all-time favorite." Alibay's not always into the compari- son game either, but when he sees his son twist out of a tackle and then bowl over the next defender, he flashes back to the Sunday afternoons when he and Saquon would watch Sanders and Mar- tin do much the same on TV. If that's not who he is compared to, it's who he's in- spired by. "To me, I think his running style is a little bit of both," Alibay said. "I see a lot of Curtis Martin in him. The spinning and the juking – I see Barry Sanders in him there. But the power? That's Curtis Martin all the way." Hey, we all do it. ■ 111 E. Beaver Ave s State College, PA 16801 www.The-Phyrst.com 814.234.4406 137 Elmwood St. s State College, PA 16801 www.HappyValleyBeer.com Wood-fire Grill 12 Beers on Tap 200 Year Old Barn 821 Cricklewood Dr. s Toftrees, State College www.AmericanAleHouse.net 814.237.9701 s Piano Bar s Sommelier 814.238.1406 814.234.7700 s 1611 Atherton St. s State College 814.941.7788 s Plank Rd. Exit s Altoona www.ChampsSportsGrill.net s Best Game Bar s Large Groups Welcome c lc e W We s p u o r G e g r a L s a e B m a st G e B s S n S h 1 A 1 6 1 0 0 7 7 4. 3 2 4. 1 8 me co r a l l C S r G s rt o p S s p m a h C . www s t i x . E d k R n a l P s 8 8 7 7 1. 4 9 . 4 1 8 S s . t n S o t r e h t 1 A 1 6 1 s 0 0 7 7 4. 3 2 4. 1 8 t e n . l l i r na o o t l A e g e l l o C e at t S

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