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Penn State Football Early Position Preview 2017: Running Back

By Shane Lunnen

Dec 3, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions running back Saquon Barkley (26) runs against the Wisconsin Badgers in the second half during the Big Ten Championship college football game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 3, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions running back Saquon Barkley (26) runs against the Wisconsin Badgers in the second half during the Big Ten Championship college football game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Nittany Lions will have one of the best running back corps in the country in 2017.

When it comes to the Penn State backfield, one could talk for days about how great Saquon Barkley is.  But when you combine Barkley’s talent with the other running backs on the roster, that equals a potent rushing attack and the Lions most loaded positional group.

Barkley is hands down one of the nation’s best.  No doubt he will be bestowed a lot of pre-season award hype, including the Heisman.  Last season there was no sophomore slump for Barkley as he rattled off nearly 1500 yards rushing and 18 touchdowns.  He also had just over 400 yards receiving and caught four   touchdowns through the air.

Most will remember his ankle-breaking touchdown run in the Rose Bowl, but his overtime winning touchdown against Minnesota was special and the beginning of Penn State’s magical run last season.

Barkley is poised for a huge season.  We should enjoy it as it could be Barkley’s last in blue and white as he is a projected top pick per some sources such as this tidbit from Penn Live.

Behind Barkley there is plenty of talent and no true number two guy since they all got a fair share of playing time in 2016.

Miles Sanders was James Franklin’s highest rated recruit of the 2016 class.  He may have only had 25 carries out of the backfield, but he turned in a 7.4 yards per carry average and two touchdowns, one each on the ground and receiving.  Sanders’ biggest issue is his ball control and it will be something to keep an eye on if he can fix that issue in spring practices and heading into the fall.

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Next is redshirt sophomore Andre Robinson.  He is more of a powerful bruiser than the other backs.  Even though he had only 29 carries last season in spelling Barkley, he scored five touchdowns on the ground and had one through the air.  He should get plenty of looks next season.

It seems the odd man out in the backfield is redshirt junior Mark Allen.  He had 115 yards and one touchdown in sporadic spot duty last season.  We should expect him to get about the same amount of playing time as he had last year and maybe he can find a niche in catching balls out of the backfield.

The new man on the block is 2017 commit Journey Brown.  With the crowded backfield, logic would suggest Brown receives a redshirt this season.  However he possesses elite speed and may find a role on special teams.

Next: Penn State Football Season Rewind: Despite Slow Start, Nittany Lions Blow Out Purdue

Penn State has an embarrassment of riches in the backfield and they should continue to give opposing defenses fits this upcoming year.

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