Penn State Football: 5 reasons Nittany Lions will repeat as Big Ten champs

1. Saquon Rasul Quavis Barkley

Come on, like this was even really a question?

Saquon Barkley has been, and likely will continue to be, the best player in the nation, and is essentially a human highlight reel.

Frankly, I’m sure he even walks to class in an impressive fashion, juking past oncoming pedestrians with relative ease, and powering his way through a crowded hallway.

Barkley is currently second in the nation in all-purpose yards, trailing only Rashaad Penny, who is essentially responsible for San Diego State’s entire offense, and has done so on 26 fewer carries.

However, unlike many top NCAA backs, Barkley isn’t used as a traditional bell-cow, 25 carry-per-game back, instead averaging a paltry 21 touches per game, five catches and 17 rushes.

While many fans, myself included, often play arm-chair coordinator on Saturdays and wonder why Barkley, a truly generational talent, doesn’t get more touches on any give game, under a critical eye, it actually makes perfect sense.

Say what you will about Penn State’s offense, its propensity to run a two-minute offense no matter the situation, their marriage to the shotgun formation regardless of down and distance, and their lack of a fullback, they are anything but one-dimensional.

In games where Barkley has failed to put up goudy numbers as a rusher, like in the team’s Week 5 games against Indiana, or the team’s Week 6 game against Northwestern, the team still scored with ease through the air, and even highlighted Barkley’s impressive hands as a receiver out of the backfield.

Next: NFL Mock Draft 2018: First round after Week 6

Expect this trend to continue over the next two months.