While Philadelphia Eagles star running back Saquon Barkley admits he’s in a funk currently, he has the tools to get out of it. He’s an explosive player with plenty of talent, and it’s a great time to look at his college stats from his time at Penn State.
Saquon Barkley Shines as a Freshman
Any running back recruit talented enough to start as a freshman typically has a bright future. Barkley fit that category, and he put the Big Ten on notice immediately. Penn State’s rushing attack left something to be desired in the previous season, and Barkley quickly fixed those issues.
While he only had one rushing attempt against Temple, the Nittany Lions unleashed their star freshman after that. He averaged 9.6 yards per carry against Buffalo, and gashed Rutgers for 195 yards and two touchdowns in the next game. His abilities jumped out on film, and it was just the beginning of a sensational career.
- PFSN College RBi Score: N/A
- Rush Attempts: 182
- Rush Yards: 1,076
- Yards Per Carry: 5.9
- TDs: 7
- Catches: 20
- Receiving Yards: 161
- Yards Per Catch: 8.1
- Receiving TDs: 1
Breakout Season Gets Penn State Back on Track
James Franklin came to Penn State to get them out of the rut they were in prior to his arrival. It was taking some time, but the 2016 season gave him that breakthrough season. His formula: get the ball to Saquon Barkley.
While the play of quarterback Trace McSorley was a huge component as well, Barkley was the shining star of the team. Whether it was as a runner or a receiver, the Nittany Lions knew who would give them the most consistent results.
He posted nine games over 100 total yards, and four with over 200 total yards of offense. The offense reached new heights, and Barkley capped off his sophomore season with 194 yards and two touchdowns rushing in the Rose Bowl against USC. That game also produced this highlight reel run.
- PFSN College RBi Score: N/A
- Rush Attempts: 272
- Rush Yards: 1,496
- Yards Per Carry: 5.5
- TDs: 18
- Catches: 28
- Receiving Yards: 402
- Yards Per Catch: 14.4
- Receiving TDs: 4
Saquon Barkley’s Draft Stock Skyrockets as a Junior
As if Barkley didn’t terrify opponents enough, Franklin and his staff decided to add another element of fear. They put him on kick return his junior year, and all he did was average 27.8 yards per return. The production didn’t slow down elsewhere either, leading him to become an All-American selection.
Barkley did things that normal running backs simply don’t do. His combination of size, speed, quickness, and athleticism was uncommon for the position. All of that was put on full display in a showdown with the Iowa Hawkeyes early in the season.
Penn State won the game 21-19 thanks to their star running back. He posted 356 total yards, but it was how he got those yards that made him sensational. Barkley got yards in every way imaginable from putting defenders in a blender to hurdling defenders in a way we’d never seen before in college football.
If you want to know why the New York Giants took him second overall in the 2018 NFL Draft, look no further than that game. He played out of this world, and it’s easy to see why NFL teams fell in love with him.
- PFSN College RBi Score: N/A
- Rush Attempts: 217
- Rush Yards: 1,271
- Yards Per Carry: 5.9
- TDs: 18
- Catches: 54
- Receiving Yards: 632
- Yards Per Catch: 11.7
- Receiving TDs: 3
