Saquon Barkley, Mike Gesicki and Marcus Allen all took home some preseason Athlon All-American honors on Tuesday the publication announced this afternoon.
As expected Barkley rounded out the All-First Team Offense at running back alongside LSU running back Derrius Guice and quarterback Baker Mayfield. Royce Freeman of Oregon and Kamryn Pittway of Auburn were named second-team selections at the same position.
As far as the rest of the Nittany Lions, Gesicki found himself on the second-team selection just ahead of former Penn State tight end Adam Breneman who was named to the third-team, currently playing at UMass.
Allen and his big play profile was a third team selection.
All told eight team have three or more All-Americans on Athlon’s list with Alabama pacing the way with seven selections and only Ohio State’s five All-Americans more than the Nittany Lions in the Big Ten.
Penn State is scheduled to face only two of Athlon’s first-team selections in Iowa linebacker Josey Jewell and Pitt kick returner Quadree Henderson both taking the field against the Nittany Lions in the opening four weeks of the season.
