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A look at Penn State Football’s success with in-state RBs

By Alec Whitaker

STATE COLLEGE, PA - OCTOBER 01: Saquon Barkley #26 of the Penn State Nittany Lions rushes past Gaelin Elmore #87 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers for the game winning touchdown in the first overtime period at Beaver Stadium on October 1, 2016 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)
STATE COLLEGE, PA - OCTOBER 01: Saquon Barkley #26 of the Penn State Nittany Lions rushes past Gaelin Elmore #87 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers for the game winning touchdown in the first overtime period at Beaver Stadium on October 1, 2016 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) /
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STATE COLLEGE, PA – SEPTEMBER 16: Saquon Barkley #26 of the Penn State Nittany Lions in action against the Georgia State Panthers at Beaver Stadium on September 16, 2017 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
STATE COLLEGE, PA – SEPTEMBER 16: Saquon Barkley #26 of the Penn State Nittany Lions in action against the Georgia State Panthers at Beaver Stadium on September 16, 2017 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /

Saquon Barkley (2015-2017)

We start this list with the best of the bunch, Saquon Barkley from Whitehall, PA.

Rated as a 4-star during his recruitment, Barkley committed to the Nittany Lions on Feb. 19, 2014. Barkley flipped his commitment from Rutgers to Penn State.

After signing as the top-rated commit in Penn State’s 2015 class, Barkley arrived on campus with high expectations.

It didn’t take long for Barkley to breakout as a true freshman, as he scored his first touchdown in just his second game. Barkley finished the 2015 season with 1,076 yards and seven touchdowns on 182 carries. The hype was real heading into 2016.

Barkley lived up to the hype as he helped lead Penn State to the Big Ten title in 2016. That season, Barkley carried the ball 272 times for 1,496 yards and 18 touchdowns. He also added 28 catches for 402 yards and four touchdowns.

Barkley was named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year and the Ameche-Dayne Running Back of the Year for his efforts in 2016.

The following year garnered even more national attention for Barkley.

That year, he led the Nittany Lions to a 11-2 record while rushing the ball 217 times for 1,271 yards and 18 touchdowns. Barkley also caught 54 passes for 632 yards and three touchdowns, in addition to returning two kickoffs for touchdowns and throwing one touchdown pass.

He repeated as the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year and the Ameche-Dayne Running Back of the Year. Barkley also won the Rodgers-Dwight Return Specialist of the Year and was a consensus All-American.

Barkley was the second overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft to the New York Giants. He is considered the greatest Penn State football player of the James Franklin era.

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