Success with Hyperlinking: Saquon Barkley’s Debut and Injury Scare Tops the Headlines

Penn State fans and New York Giants fans alike had a bit of a scare when news broke Monday that Saquon Barkley left practice and had his leg wrapped.

Those fans can breathe easy now.

Giants coach Pat Shurmur provided an update that Barkley only suffered a mild strain. Shurmur said the team will be careful with Barkley as the preseason continues to avoid a more damaging injury to the superstar.

It didn’t take long for Barkley to display his talent to the NFL. With Penn State faithfuls eagerly anticipating his first professional play, Barkley delivered with a 39-yard rush. Patricia Traina of Forbes detailed how significant that first play was not just for Barkley, but for the Giants organization as a whole.

While Barkley makes a name for himself in the NFL, plenty of Nittany Lions still donning the collegiate blue and white are building hype for the upcoming season. On Friday, Koa Farmer was named to the Polynesian Player of the Year Watch List. The senior linebacker will try to build on his most productive season, having registered 48 tackles and 5.5 tackles for loss in 2017.

The players aren’t the only ones making noise. Assistant coach Ricky Rahne was named to ESPN’s “40 under 40” list, honoring 40 “ascending superstar” coaches under 40-years-old in the NCAA.

The praise isn’t being reserved to those on the gridiron, however. On the ice, incoming freshman Aarne Talvitie was named by NHL.com as one of the top 10 players at the World Junior Summer Showcase. Captaining the Finnish squad, Talvitie netted four goals in five games, including a dazzling shorthanded goal against Team Canada.

Guy Gadowsky will need to fill the hole left by Andrew Sturtz after his departure to the pros, and Talvitie certainly has the talent to contribute at the collegiate level.