Penn State Players in the NFL: Week 3

Story posted September 25, 2018 in CommRadio, Sports by David Green

Former Nittany Lions have been representing all across the NFL in the first three weeks. Players that are either producing a quite a bit or are part of a team making major noise early in their division include names such as Saquon Barkley, Chris Godwin, Allen Robinson, Mike Gesicki and Cameron Wake.

Saquon Barkley:

The New York Giants’ defeated the Houston Texans Sunday behind Barkley’s 82 rushing yards, 35 rushing yards, and a 15-yard rush resulting in a touchdown right up the middle. The duo of Odell Beckham and Barkley is beginning to shine and should continue after the Giants reached their first victory of the season Sunday. Barkley should continue to see an increasingly heavy workload as this team moves later into the season and battles for a playoff spot in the talented NFC East.

Chris Godwin:

The second-year wide receiver has been lighting it up for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers through the first three weeks of the regular season. Godwin has scored a touchdown in each of them. He has seen an increasing amount of targets every week this season. It seems he is yet another one of Ryan Fitzpatrick’s favorite targets. Despite the week three loss to Pittsburgh, Godwin hauled in five catches for 74 yards to go along with a touchdown. Godwin causes problems for defenses because the Bucs already have several deep threats in Jackson, Evans, and OJ Howard.

Allen Robinson:

Robinson is an instrumental part to the Chicago Bears offense and has been receiving heavy targets from Trubisky through the first three weeks. In the last two games, which the Bears won, Robinson has recorded 13 receptions on 21 targets. With the Bears defense earning a great bit of attention lately because of defensive menace Khalil Mack, major talent such as Robinson has been overlooked by many football fans.

Mike Gesicki and Cameron Wake:

The Miami Dolphins are off to an extraordinarily hot start this season with a 3-0 record including some former Nittany Lions, one at the end of his career and the other in his rookie season. Mike Gesicki and Cameron Wake have each contributed to their side of the ball and should see increased action as the season progresses and the Dolphins go up against tougher matchups. Although Gesicki only has four receptions on the season so far, he managed to record 30 receiving yards Sunday in the victory over Oakland. Gesicki also averaged over 10 yards per reception. On the defensive end, Wake has been wreaking havoc on quarterbacks this season, as he always does. It will be interesting to see if Wake can continue to lead this defense towards the playoffs as we progress into the season.

Some former Nittany Lions have made an immediate impact for their teams while others are poised to make an impact once they are called upon. Players like Barkley, Godwin, and Robinson should all continue to represent Penn State as top players in the NFL for the weeks and years to come.

 

David Green is a junior majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, please contact Davidrgreen95@gmail.com.