Penn State’s Saquon Barkley makes case to be No. 1 Pick

Penn State’s Saquon Barkley has had a great college career, but made a real statement this weekend against Iowa.

Saquon Barkley entered the season as on of my top-5 2018 NFL Draft prospects. So far, he has completely solidified that draft status. His performance against Iowa this weekend actually makes him a realistic option for the No. 1 overall pick.

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Barkley features a rare blend of size, quickness and power. He can play any type of game whether that being a power running attack or working the edges. However, it’s his improvement as a pass catcher that makes him special.

He is a natural pass catcher who plucks the ball away from his frame. Barkley does a great job making the catch while maintaining full speed. This allows him to maximize his yards after the catch.

Barkley also doesn’t shy away from the dirty work. He’s a willing and strong blocker who uses proper technique. This was also on display against Iowa– especially on the last play of the game where Barkley met a blitzing linebacker at the line of scrimmage.

Ezekiel Elliott is the most recent running back prospect to have this type of ability. He was a complete prospect who was a dominant runner, good pass catcher and accomplished blocker.

Barkley may have even more potential than Elliott. He’s a more explosive athlete who can easily outpace defensive angles. Barkley also comes with a clean off-field track record which will obviously help his draft stock.

It’s still early in the process, but Barkley has opened a lot of eyes. He will be someone that gets consideration for the No. 1 overall pick if that team doesn’t need a quarterback.