New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley may only be entering his second year in the league, but he still wants to assert himself as a leader on the team and is working to do that this summer:
“I’ve definitely asserted myself in more of a leadership role,” said Barkley, according to Dan Benton of Giants Wire. “That’s the beauty of sports, and especially the beauty of football — you don’t just need one leader. It’s not like when I’m saying I’m asserting myself into that role that I’m the leader of the New York Giants.”
Barkley is coming off of a spectacular rookie campaign in which he played all 16 games and racked up 1,307 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground while averaging five yards per carry. In addition, he hauled in 91 receptions for 721 yards and four scores, earning a Pro Bowl selection.
The 22-year-old, who played his collegiate football at Penn State, was originally selected by the Giants with the second overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft.
Barkley says that being more vocal with his teammates is something that has taken some getting used to, but now, he feels okay with it:
“When I was younger, I would say high school and college, I was a guy that would just come in and work and lead by example, and you have to do that, you have to lead by example and show what you’re able to do, but you have to be vocal,” said Barkley. “That’s where I had to get a little more comfortable.”
The Giants won just five games this past year and have made just one playoff appearance since last winning the Super Bowl during the 2011-12 campaign.
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