Penn State Football: Position Grades versus Northwestern
Running Backs
I’ve heard of eight guys in the box to stop the run, but Northwestern’s defense took on a life of its own. Anytime McSorley even looked his way, five players sprinted in his direction. Even when the defense threw its best punch, Barkley hit back.
He was contained for most of the night, but when he finally got to showcase his Heisman talent, he didn’t disappoint. It’s almost unfair to grade Barkley, because so many of his yards were earned on a 53-yard TD run.
A better way to look at his contributions is the plays he opened up for the rest of the team. McSorley wouldn’t have delivered strikes if the defense didn’t key on Barkley. The defensive pressure on everyone else dissipated simply because of him. That’s a Heisman candidate. He wasn’t worried about the carries but the win instead.