Penn State running back Saquon Barkley declared for the NFL draft on Sunday, making official a decision that had been likely for months. His farewell message:
Saquon Barkley declares for the NFL draft after 3 brilliant years at Penn State
PSU’s electric running back leaves school with one year of eligibility remaining.
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
“I hope I have left a lasting impression on this University, football program and community at large,” Barkley wrote in an Instagram post.
He certainly did. Barkley arrived at Penn State before the 2015 season and, over three years, was instrumental in bringing the Nittany Lions from post-NCAA sanctions mediocrity to Big Ten champions in 2016 and Fiesta Bowl winners in 2017.
Along the way, Barkley racked up the biggest and best highlight reel of any player in college football. A weight room monster who could power-clean 405 pounds and still run a sub-4.5-second 40-yard dash, Barkley dazzled fans and scorched defenses with an impossible mix of power and speed. He was as fun a player to watch as the college game has had in years, and he keyed PSU’s fast rise in the Big Ten.
Barkley’s stats don’t do his brilliance justice, but they’re still great. Over three years in State College, he totaled 5,038 scrimmage yards and scored 51 touchdowns. He ran for 5.7 yards per carry and, in 2017, became a consistent receiving threat with 54 catches and 632 yards through the air. He added two kickoff return touchdowns.
Barkley is highly likely to be a first-round pick in April’s draft — probably near the beginning of that round. There’s no reason he can’t be a superstar at the next level. Having him in college football was a joy for everyone who watched him.
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