3. Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State
Saquon Barkley is my top rated running back prospect because of his overall versatility and playmaking ability. He’s someone who’s a threat in both the running and passing attack. Barkley is a threat to score every time he touches the football.
He features excellent size and a strong build. This is someone who can handle a heavy workload and remain healthy. Barkley doesn’t shy away from contact and is powerful enough to run over would-be tacklers.
His toughness is complemented by his balance and speed. He easily changes direction which makes him a nightmare to tackle in the open field.
Barkley is a quick-twitch athlete who gets up to full speed in a hurry. He uses his vision to spot the open hole and shoots through the lane. The majority of the time he looks to get north and south, but Penn State’s offense sometimes asks him to work laterally.
It’s important to note that Barkley’s success at Penn State came despite running behind a poor offensive line. A large majority of his yardage came from him creating something out of nothing. His positive attitude during this period is something that should be commended.
Overall, Barkley is an every-down back who can be the focal point of an offense. He’ll provide big plays as well as move the chains.