Both the NFL and college football are back, leaving fans to reminisce about the connection between those two highly popular levels of play. Let’s take a look back at the electrifying college career of Philadelphia Eagles star Saquon Barkley.
Where Did Saquon Barkley Play College Football?
Barkley has long been beloved by Philly fans, as he made a name for himself at Penn State University. In 2016, he was a second-team All-American as one of the best and most versatile offensive weapons in the country for a team that beat Ohio State, won the Big Ten, and competed in one of the most entertaining Rose Bowls of all time against USC.
The next season, he was a top candidate for the Heisman Trophy and a consensus first-team All-American as Penn State went on to beat Washington in the Fiesta Bowl. In Barkley’s final game as a Nittany Lion, he compiled 175 scrimmage yards and scored twice, including a 92-yard scamper that placed him in a tie for the longest rushing play in Penn State history.
Next, let’s take a look at some key stats from Barkley’s decorated Penn State career.
Saquon Barkley’s College Stats
Barkley put up fantastic numbers over his three years at Penn State, but let’s check out a few that particularly stand out.
Penn State Yardage Leader
Over his three-season career at State College, Penn., Barkley became Penn State’s all-time leader in all-purpose yardage with a total of 5,538. This total included 3,843 yards running the football, 1,195 as a receiver (another program record among running backs), and even 500 yards while returning kicks and punts. He also set a single-game all-purpose yardage record with 358 total yards accounted for in a 2017 visit to Iowa.
Rushing Records
Barkley’s 43 career rushing touchdowns also set a program record at Penn State. His totals of 1,076 rushing yards in 2015 and 1,496 yards in 2016 were also school-bests for a freshman and sophomore, respectively.
A Unique Receiving Back
En route to his receiving yardage record as a running back, Barkley was an extremely efficient pass catcher. While many running backs who rack up catches do so primarily with short-yardage strikes, Barkley averaged 11.7 yards per reception across his career, highlighted by a mark of 14.4 as a sophomore, meaning that his average reception provided Penn State with a new set of downs.
When Was Saquon Barkley Drafted?
Barkley was drafted second overall in the 2018 NFL Draft by the New York Giants. It’s hard to say that the pick was a success, especially after Barkley moved over to the rival Eagles, but it may have spurred a new way of thinking in the NFL. Since that draft, Bijan Robinson (eighth overall in 2023) is the only back to be picked in the top 10, with some classes coming and going without a single first-round running back being selected.