Former Penn State Standouts Saquon Barkley, Chop Robinson Named Finalists for NFL Awards

A pair of former Penn State players are up for some of the most prestigious awards in the NFL.

Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, enjoying the most successful season of his seven-year NFL career, is one of five finalists for the AP MVP and Offensive Player of the Year announced on Thursday. He is the only non-quarterback among the finalists, which also include Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, Jared Goff and Lamar Jackson.

In his first season with the Eagles, the former Nittany Lion standout set career highs with 2,005 rushing yards and 13 rushing touchdowns.

Barkley finished the regular season just 100 rushing yards short of Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson’s single-season record, set in 1984.

On the other side of the ball, Miami Dolphins edge rusher Chop Robinson was named one of five finalists for Defensive Rookie of the Year. 

Robinson, who blossomed into a first-round NFL Draft selection after two years at Penn State, collected six sacks and eight tackles for loss across his first year at the professional level.

Joining Robinson as finalists for DROY are two Eagles, cornerbacks Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell, and two Rams, defensive end Braden Fiske and linebacker Jared Verse.