Golden boy Saquon Barkley hasn’t stopped making headlines since he arrived at Penn State as a wide-eyed freshman with his nose to the grindstone. Humble as ever, he’s now front, center, and shirtless on one of Sports Illustrated‘s NFL Draft preview covers.

Barkley said he wanted his cover story to be about his future, not his past. He’s out to become the new face of the NFL, after all. The story also mentions he doesn’t mind all the interviews and three-hour photo shoots.

We’re not complaining either when it leads to all this:

COVER STORY: Face of the NFL? @saquon has a plan: https://t.co/z1c8KbMS5I pic.twitter.com/OIVeG4YdZK

— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) April 18, 2018

We learned before the Rose Bowl last year that the thirst for Penn State football players is real.

Comparatively, Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield was captured showing off his dad bod, chest hair and all.

COVER STORY: @bakermayfield doesn’t have time for your No. 6 pick https://t.co/jPysz9QdYc pic.twitter.com/6hOVJuOvOa

— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) April 18, 2018

Unfortunately, we can’t see whether he’s wearing white New Balances. But it seems like a safe bet.

Sports Illustrated TV will also release a segment leading up to the draft about how Barkley became the “perfect prospect.” Here’s the teaser:

The NFL Draft begins Thursday, April 26, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Barkley is expected to be a top-five pick, and he and his most vehement supporters say there’s no reason he won’t go No. 1 overall.

About the Author

Elissa Hill

Elissa was the managing editor of Onward State from 2017-2019. She is from Punxsutawney, PA [insert corny Bill Murray joke here] and considers herself an expert on all things ice cream. Follow her on Twitter (@ElissaKHill) for more corny jokes.

How Centre County Voted In The 2026 Midterm Elections

Centre County saw a 55.32% voter turnout rate in the general election.

Man Accused of Stealing Vehicle From State College Hotel & Driving Drunk

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for November 12.

‘Blood In The Water’: Penn State Football Cornerback Audavion Collins & Secondary Elevating Surrounding Units

“He does a good job of making everyone else around him better because he’s the hardest-working guy on the field at all times.”