Penn State running back Saquon Barkley received the Paul Hornung award and Iowa State football players weren’t happy their teammated Joel Lanning was snubbed.
Barkley was announced Wednesday as the 2017 Paul Hornung Award winner, a trophy that goes to the nation’s most versatile player.
It's official - @PennStateFball 's @saquonb21 wins the #2017PHA. pic.twitter.com/uAtLPG33L3
— Paul Hornung Award (@hornungaward) December 6, 2017
Barkley shined on offense and special team for the Nittany Lions this year, helping Penn State to a 10-2 record and spot in the Fiesta Bowl on December 30 opposite Washington.
The junior ran for 1,134 yards and scored 16 touchdowns, adding 47 receptions for 594 yards and three more scores. Barkley, who is projected to be a top pick this April in the 2018 NFL Draft, was also dangerous in the return game, taking two kickoffs back for scores and averaging 28 yards per return.
Barkley also completed two passes for 36 yards, one of which went for a touchdown.
"“It is an honor to win an award like the Paul Hornung Award for the most versatile player in college football,” Barkley said. “I am so appreciative of Mr. Hornung and the Louisville Sports Commission for selecting me for this very special honor. I have to give a lot of the credit to my teammates and coaches, they are the reason that I am in position to win this award and I could not have done it without them. I also want to thank our amazing fans at Penn State. We Are.”"
Early in the year, Barkley appeared to be a clear-cut favorite to win the Heisman, especially after he ran for 211 yards and scored a touchdown in a prime-time win over Iowa that moved Penn State’s record to 4-0 at the time. The Nittany Lions won their first seven games before Barkley was held in-check in a 39-38 loss to Ohio State.
Barkley ran for 172 yards and found the end zone twice in the season opener with Akron, adding 108 in a win over Michigan and 158 in a victory vs. Nebraska. He had seven touchdowns in the final three games of the year to help Penn State close strong.
Barkley becomes the first player from Penn State to win the honor. The other finalists were Iowa State’s Joel Lanning, NC State’s Nyheim Hines and Dante Pettis from Washington.
Iowa State starting quarterback Kyle Kempt and top receiver Allen Lazard came to the defense of Lanning, who they felt should have won the honor.
. @hornungaward this feels like a consolation prize for Barkley not being a Heisman finalist or the committee being blue-blood homers, either way, @JFL_02 was the more deserving player by far #Snubbed
— Kyle Kempt (@CoachKyleKempt) December 6, 2017
Lanning moved to linebacker this year after starting his career at quarterback for the Cyclones. He finished the season with 110 tackles, including five sacks and 10 stops for loss, to go along with an interception, a fumble recovery and two passes defended. The senior also ran for 115 yards and a score, and completed 3 of 4 passes for 47 yards and another touchdown.
Not to take anything away from @saquonb21 cuz I think he‘s the best all-around player in CFB but... idk how much more versatile a player can get in @JFL_02 the man literally played QB(threw and ran for TDs) and led our defense in tackles!!!
— Allen Lazard 👑 (@AllenLazard) December 6, 2017
Next: 2018 NFL Mock Draft: Complete first round after Week 14
The official Paul Hornung Award website ran a fan poll that recorded over 112,000 votes. Lanning won that in a landslide, receiving over 58 percent of the votes with Barkley coming in second.