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Saquon Barkley Among 2018 NFL Draft Top Players

By George Stockburger

January 2, 2017; Pasadena, CA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions running back Saquon Barkley (26) runs the ball in for a touchdown ahead of Southern California Trojans defensive back Adoree' Jackson (2) during the second half of the 2017 Rose Bowl game at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
January 2, 2017; Pasadena, CA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions running back Saquon Barkley (26) runs the ball in for a touchdown ahead of Southern California Trojans defensive back Adoree' Jackson (2) during the second half of the 2017 Rose Bowl game at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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Leading the Big Ten in touchdowns, Saquon Barkley could become the top running back in the 2018 NFL Draft class

Less than a week out of the 2017 NFL Draft season we begin to highlight the names that will take over draft boards everywhere. After months of debate regarding Leonard Fournette, Dalvin Cook, and Christian McCaffrey new names come into focus.

A strong running back class in 2017 could be matched next year with an unprecedented number of collegiate stars attempting to make the jump.

Penn State junior Saquon Barkley projects to be the number one back in the draft next year. Leading the Big Ten with 22 total touchdowns, flashing the ability to run in-between the tackles, catch the ball out of the backfield, and run routes to perfection.

It’s hard to nail down a professional comparison for Barkley, but the closest star that brings a combination of shiftiness, power, and hands is LeSean McCoy.

Barkley has the best balance I’ve ever seen, and the footwork and control come along with it.

Here’s a 79-yard touchdown run in the Rose Bowl where Barkley turns nothing into something spectacular.

Several early projections have Barkley leaving the Nittany Lions a season early and being a top-10 draft pick in 2018. He’ll have competition from Georgia stars Sony Michel and Nick Chubb, Alabama’s Bo Scarborough, and Oregon’s Royce Freeman.

Next: Biggest Steals of 2017 NFL Draft

Ki-Jana Carter came out of Penn State as the number one pick in the 1995 NFL Draft, and while his career didn’t live up to the hype there is a precedent for Barkley.

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