Fansided
Fansided

College Football: Running Backs Replacing 2018 NFL Draft Picks

By Talon Graff

ARLINGTON, TX - APRIL 26: Saquon Barkley of Penn State poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being picked #2 overall by the New York Giants during the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft at AT&T Stadium on April 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX - APRIL 26: Saquon Barkley of Penn State poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being picked #2 overall by the New York Giants during the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft at AT&T Stadium on April 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 6
Next
GLENDALE, AZ – DECEMBER 30: Running back Miles Sanders #24 of the Penn State Nittany Lions rushes the football against the Washington Huskies during the second half of the Playstation Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium on December 30, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. The Nittany Lions defeated the Huskies 35-28. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ – DECEMBER 30: Running back Miles Sanders #24 of the Penn State Nittany Lions rushes the football against the Washington Huskies during the second half of the Playstation Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium on December 30, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. The Nittany Lions defeated the Huskies 35-28. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

Who replaces the best of the best in college football next season?

Seven college running backs were selected in the first two rounds of the 2018 NFL Draft. All of them left tremendous legacies on their campus and left even bigger shoes to fill. Who will be the ones to step up and take over the running back duties for their programs?

Penn State – Miles Sanders, Junior

Saquon Barkley was only first running back taken in the top three of the NFL Draft since Alabama’s Trent Richardson was selected at three by Cleveland in 2012. Barkley is the first to go number two overall since Reggie Bush was taken by New Orleans out of USC in 2006.

Needless to say, the now former Nittany Lion running back is perceived a rare talent. The New York Giants are planning on him playing a major role in their offense but what about the plan for the team who has to replace him?

GLENDALE, AZ – DECEMBER 30: Running back Saquon Barkley #26 of the Penn State Nittany Lions runs the football 92 yards to score a touchdown against the Washington Huskies during the first half of the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium on December 30, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ – DECEMBER 30: Running back Saquon Barkley #26 of the Penn State Nittany Lions runs the football 92 yards to score a touchdown against the Washington Huskies during the first half of the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium on December 30, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images) /

Miles Sanders was one of the top running back prospects in the 2016 class, and stayed in-state after graduating from Woodland Hills High School in Pittsburgh. The junior has a little experience carrying the ball for James Franklin’s squad while serving a backup role and a kick returner. He has totaled 56 carries so far in his career while tallying 375 yards with three touchdowns. Sanders has patiently waiting in the wings while his predecessor turned heads and dropped jaws.

Penn State’s new bell cow brings a different dimension to the offense. He is a bit smaller than Barkley, standing at 5’11 and weighing 210 lbs. After watching his high school game film and what little film there is from college, he is a shiftier back who relies more on his speed quickness than power. He displayed big-play ability in his limited collegiate backfield role but could have a breakout season in 2018.

Home/College Football