Penn State Football 2017 Player Profile: Saquon Barkley
Saquon Barkley’s value to the Penn State football team is incalculable. He’s been the most explosive offensive weapon the last two seasons.
It’s hard to put into words what the best back in college football means to Penn State football. Saquon Barkley’s play over the past two seasons helped bring the once great program back to relevancy.
Barkley turns it on when the Nittany Lions need him most. Pitt, Ohio State, USC, Wisconsin, etc. know he can hurt a defense in so many ways. In all those games, he showed an explosion and elusiveness that only all-time greats carry.
Against those four opponents, he compiled 461 rushing yards, seven rushing touchdowns, 120 receiving yards and three touchdowns. His numbers don’t paint the whole picture, but they are outstanding. In just two seasons, he’s rushed for 2,572 yards, 25 touchdowns on 5.7 yards per carry. As a pass catcher, he racked up 48 catches for 563 yards and five touchdowns.
His best trait is by far his cutting ability. He doesn’t slow down when he cuts past a defender. Most players decelerate after making a cut, but Barkley almost hits another gear when he gets by a defender. It’s what gave him one of the best runs of the 2016-2017 seasons against USC.
True Dual Threat
As much as his running skills cut like a knife past defenders, his receiving skills go unnoticed. He caught 28 passes last year and wasn’t just a dump-off option either. They used him down the field on wheel routes and gave McSorley a trustworthy complete back.
His touchdown catch against Pitt stands out the most. McSorley fired a ball at Barkley just eight yards into his route. After securing the ball, he scorched the tackling angle of three players to the end zone.
His all-around play put him in special company that all prior Nittany Lions couldn’t achieve. He’s just 1,361 rushing yards from surpassing Evan Royster for Penn State’s all-time leading rusher. Royster and multiple past backs needed more carries, yards and years to make it to the top. Barkley needed just two seasons and fewer carries to put himself in prime position.
If he can repeat his recent results, the Nittany Lions will again be one of the best offenses in college football. Furthermore, he’ll definitely be a Heisman Trophy contender for the upcoming season.
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The offense goes through him and it’s no secret. Playing out of the shotgun, he goes from a dead stop and races past defenses. Along with McSorley, they make up one of college football’s best backfields.