WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. – Philadelphia Eagles star running back and Lehigh Valley native Saquon Barkley will be inducted into the Whitehall High School Hall of Fame Friday.

Barkley graduated from Whitehall in 2015.

Saquon will be inducted into the Hall of Fame during Friday night’s football game against East Stroudsburg South. Whitehall’s current and former athletic directors tell me Barkley had made quite the impact on the community. 

It’s a huge honor for a special alum.

“It’s a great community event, we’re excited about it. There’s been a lot of buzz going on around campus over the past couple of weeks and tonight’s the big night for Saquon and his family,” said Whitehall Athletic Director Jeff Pukszyn.

During Friday night’s Whitehall football game, former Zephyr, Eagles running back, and Super Bowl 59 champion Saquon Barkley will be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

“A lot of these young guys that come through this locker room, they get to see his jersey on the wall. We have a jersey in the locker room. He’s been a great impact because he grew up like many of them do,” said former Whitehall Athletic Director Bob Hartman.

But it’s so much more than being a star player. It’s Barkley’s conduct on and off the field.

“Two years ago, when I worked our St. Luke’s football camp and Saquon was here, you could see it there. He’s in his element. It’s a football camp. People had to pry him away with the amount of time that he was putting in with the kids. He was doing autographs, jerseys, he was signing T-shirts, and I think that just shows the kind of person he is,” said Pukszyn.

“A lot of our kids fight through a lot of adversity. He was no different. It’s sort of walking the same path. He was obviously blessed with a lot of skill and ability, but he added hard work to that, so I think that’s the most important thing, kids, seeing the hard work and effort that he put into his craft,” said Hartman.

“He’s a humble guy. He’ll come here tonight and for people that know him it will be no different. He’ll be the same guy he was 10 years ago.” 

A positive role model, who now plays for the team with one of the most passionate fan bases in the NFL.

“The stars have certainly aligned not only for him, but for the community in the community being able to support him being so close to home and playing for the Eagles,” said Pukszyn.

“He has roots here and he remembers this place and that’s why I know tonight in speaking with a lot of people that know him very well, this means a lot to him.” 

Kick-off is set for 7 p.m.