If you didn’t believe the Saquon Barkley hype before, you should now. The 2018 NFL Draft prospect is the prototypical running back in every sense of the word.
Whenever an NFL Draft prospect receives superstar-level hype, it’s inevitable that they’ll be met with resistance. Some don’t like the feeling of not discovering said player first, while others simply want to see it on the field before crowning a new king.
In the case of Penn State Nittany Lions running back Saquon Barkley, however, it’s hard to be anything but overwhelmed with how impressive he is.
Barkley is widely regarded as one of the top prospects in the 2018 NFL Draft, if not the No. 1 overall player. He’s supremely versatile and built like the type of player whom you’d create in a video game—a truth confirmed at the 2018 Scouting Combine.
According to Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports, Barkley checked in with just about every prototypical measurement imaginable.
Let's try that again. RIP my mentions the rest of the day, btw. Deservedly.#PENNSTATE RB Saquon Barkley did no disappoint.
— Charles Robinson (@CharlesRobinson) February 28, 2018
Height: 6-0
Weight: 233
Hand: 9 4/8
Arm: 31 3/8
Wingspan: 74 2/8
A tall and strong body with long arms, big hands, and a solid wingspan will go a long way towards intriguing NFL general managers.
Barkley checks every box from a physical perspective. Whether or not he lifts or runs well at the Combine, his game speed and strength is what will matter most to organizations that have spent the past three years anticipating his arrival.
With the knowledge that he has the body to complement with his generationally well-rounded game, general managers will likely become even more comfortable with drafting him.
As for those who don’t believe measurables are enough to get a player drafted, you’re right; just don’t think that’s all there is to Barkley.
Barkley is a dynamic runner who can work between the tackles or bounce outside and turn the corner. He’s also an explosive receiving threat who can make plays in the flat or line up in the slot to provide his quarterback with a unique target.
Barkley is also one of the best return men in this draft class, as evidenced by the fact that he returned two kickoffs for touchdowns in 2017.
With 2,329 all-purpose yards, 23 touchdowns, and the build of a running back who was created in a laboratory, Barkley has the numbers, body, and game film working in his favor.
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In an era during which running backs must be able to contribute in multiple phases of the game, Saquon Barkley is the prototype.
If he doesn’t go No. 1 overall in the 2018 NFL Draft, he won’t last much longer than that.