Penn State Football: ranking the best offensive players of the James Franklin era

1. Saquon Barkley (running back, 2015-2017)

Very few people should be surprised by this one, as Saquon Barkley is not only arguably the greatest running back in Penn State Football history, but one of the best to ever come through the program at any position.

Barkley broke out as a true freshman in 2015, and never slowed down (literally).

In 2015, despite getting just one carry in the first game of the season, and also missing a pair of games with an injury, Saquon still managed to rush for over 1,000 yards, as well as seven touchdowns, enroute to a second team all-conference selection as a true freshman.

Also as a freshman, his breakout on a national stage came on the road against an Ohio State defense loaded with future NFL stars. Barkley carried the ball 26 times that day for 194 yards, an excellent average of 7.5 yards per carry.

He was also the heart and soul of the 2016 Big Ten Championship team, rushing for over 1,400 yards and 18 touchdowns that year.

Once again in 2017, he put up excellent numbers and was one of the best players in the country, finishing fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting.

He won both Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year and Big Ten Running Back of the year in both 2016 and 2017 – as well as obviously being voted first team all-conference in those two seasons. He was also a consensus All-American in 2017.

Not only was he an outstanding rusher throughout his Penn State Football career, rushing for 3,843 yards (second in school history) and 43 touchdowns (first in school history), but he was a threat to catch the ball out of the backfield as well. He caught 102 passes for 1,195 yards and eight touchdowns in his three-year career.

Against Iowa in 2017, Barkley set the school record for all-purpose yards in a single game with 358 total yards – 211 rushing, 94 receiving, and 53 kick return.

As the cherry on top, Barkley (like Dotson) was 2/2 as a passer in his career for 36 yards, but one of his completions went for a touchdown.

All of these accolades and records were capped off by a No. 2 overall selection in the 2018 NFL Draft by the New York Giants.

His combination of size, speed, elusiveness, and strength – as well as his versatility – made him the focal point of two of the best offenses that Penn State has had in a long time.

There truly is not much of an argument against Saquon Barkley being the greatest offensive player of the James Franklin era.