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Penn State Football: Comparing Saquon Barkley to recent 1st-round RBs

By Matty Breisch

Jan 2, 2017; Pasadena, CA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions running back Saquon Barkley (26) celebrates with tight end Mike Gesicki (88) after scoring on a 24-yard touchdown run in the second quarter against the USC Trojans during the 103rd Rose Bowl at Rose Bowl. USC defeated Penn State 52-49 in the highest scoring game in Rose Bowl history. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 2, 2017; Pasadena, CA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions running back Saquon Barkley (26) celebrates with tight end Mike Gesicki (88) after scoring on a 24-yard touchdown run in the second quarter against the USC Trojans during the 103rd Rose Bowl at Rose Bowl. USC defeated Penn State 52-49 in the highest scoring game in Rose Bowl history. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 19, 2016; Piscataway, NJ, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions running back Saquon Barkley (26) during pre game warm up before facing the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at High Points Solutions Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 19, 2016; Piscataway, NJ, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions running back Saquon Barkley (26) during pre game warm up before facing the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at High Points Solutions Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Saquon’s fit

After evaluating his measurables in relation to other top running backs, it’s apparent that Saquon Barkley is a special talent.

Listed at 5-foot-11 and 223 pounds, Barkley has the ideal build to be a lead back in the NFL, with breakaway speed that could make him an absolutely electric home run hitter for years to come.

On this play against Iowa, Barkley took a simple read-option zone run from an unbalanced trips formation and turned it into a 57-yard touchdown. After eluding the first tackler, Saquon shifted into top gear and sped down the field, scoring the touchdown while being tackled for the last four yards.

In addition to his speed and athletic prowess, Barkley also has great ball carrier vision. In his 79-yard touchdown run in the 2016 Rose Bowl, Barkley attempted to run an inside zone, but when no hole appeared he instead bounced the play outside the tackles. After making his way into the open field, Barkley eluded no less than seven would-be tacklers to make his way into the end zone.

On this final play we see Saquon Barkley run a simple iso play out of the shotgun. After taking the ball he powers through his hole and has the vision and foresight to cutback from a would be tackler and sprint into the end zone untouched.

Simply put Saquon Barkley has a skillset that will absolutely thrive in the NFL.

Barkley’s combination of speed and strength, not to mention his A+ character and his work ethic, is unparalleled in relation to other recent top running backs and teams will be lining up to select Barkley in the the forthcoming NFL draft.

While Barkley could thrive in basically any NFL scheme he seems destined to be the focal point of a West Coast Offense. Teams like the Philadelphia Eagles, the New York Giants and the Kansas City Chiefs could all benefit greatly from a shifty feature back like Saquon who can run out of the shotgun, contribute as a pass blocker and catch the ball out of the backfield from day one.

Related Story: NFL Mock Draft 2018: Way-too-early edition

If he remains healthy and continues to be productive in his junior year in Happy Valley the future looks exorbitantly bright for Saquon Barkley.

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