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Here is Penn State Football’s all-time best QB/RB duo

By Chris Snyder

UNIVERSITY PARK, PA - OCTOBER 19: General view of the white out crowd before the game between the Penn State Nittany Lions and the Michigan Wolverines on October 19, 2019 at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA - OCTOBER 19: General view of the white out crowd before the game between the Penn State Nittany Lions and the Michigan Wolverines on October 19, 2019 at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) /
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Saquon Barkley #26 of the Penn State Nittany (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
Saquon Barkley #26 of the Penn State Nittany (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /

RB – Saquon Barkley (2017 Season)

Stats
Rushing
Yards: 1271
Average: 5.9
TDs: 18
Receiving
Receptions: 54
Yards: 632
TDs: 3

I mean, come on.

How could I not pick Saquon Barkley as the running back along side Blackledge?

However in all honesty, this was much tougher to decide when looking at the list of all-time great Nittany Lion running backs.

Is Barkley the all-time leading rusher in Penn State history? Nope, that belongs to Evan Royster as Barkley is No. 2 on the list.

Did he win a Heisman Trophy? Well the last time I checked, Barkley is not John Cappelletti, so this would also be a “no”.

Was he the most consistent running back in Penn State history? I would also have to say “no” as Curt Warner, Curtis Enis, Blair Thomas, Lydell Mitchell, and Tony Hunt rarely had any negative runs.

Was he the most explosive back with the highest ceiling of any player in Penn State’s backfield?

This is where I’ll answer with a resounding “yes“.

And this is what separates Barkley from the rest of the pack, in my opinion. He might have tried to bounce outside on a guaranteed three yard run on the inside and lose two yards. But he had the most probability of anyone to wear the Blue and White to take the next handoff 88 yards to the house while trucking a defensive end, juking two linebackers, and pulling away from the free safety.

Time and time again Barkley would do something on the football field which appeared to be impossible and his 2017 season was no different.

From his heroics in the form of 305 total yards and a TD in the last second come from behind win against Iowa at Kinnick Stadium to his 224 total yard and 3 TD performance in a shootout win against Nebraska, Barkley proved to the college world he was as explosive and electric as anyone.

Barkley and company then tied a bow on the 2017 football season by defeating the Washington Huskies in the Fiesta Bowl 35-28. In the process, Barkley added another 175 yards and 2 TDs to his career stats.

I know what you’re thinking, we all know Barkley could carry the football, but how well could he throw the it?

The answer? Pretty freaking good. He completed two passes for 38 yards and a TD in the 2017 season.

And I know this article is simply looking at the dynamic of any given QB/RB combo, but Barkley again flashed his brilliance in the return game that year in piling up 426 return yards and 2 TDs. This has to count for something, right?

So there you have it, my official all-time Penn State QB/RB duo would be Todd Blackledge and Saquon Barkley.

What does everyone else think?

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