Fans of the NFL and the New York Giants should not be surprised by anything running back Saquon Barkley does. He is an elite talent who is both a throwback to the past and a glimpse into the future.
The Big Ten Network is releasing their All-Decade Team for the 2010s and of course Barkley, the second overall selection in the 2018 NFL Draft, was the top choice at running back (Wisconsin’s Jonathan Taylor was the other).
Barkley scored 53 total touchdowns at Penn State, a school record. In his three seasons for the Nittany Lions, he racked up 3,843 yards rushing, averaging 5.7 yards per attempt. In addition, he grabbed 102 passes for 1,195 yards and returned 19 kickoff for 519 yards including a touchdown for 98-yards.
Some of Barkley’s achievements include:
2x First-team All-Big Ten (2016, 2017), Second-Team All-Big Ten (2015), Consensus All-American (2017), 2x Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year (2016, 2017), 2x Ameche–Dayne Running Back of the Year (2016, 2017), Rodgers-Dwight Return Specialist of the Year (2017) and the Paul Hornung Award (2017).
With Barkley, it isn’t so much what he achieved as it is how he achieved it. He did everything well and with the utmost confidence and ease. He could run through, over and around defenses which made him one of the most unique threats to ever come out of the Big Ten.
Here is what the voters had to say about the incredible college career Barkly had at State College.
