Penn State’s junior tailback Saquon Barkley is a nearly unstoppable force for the Nittany Lions’ offense.
Through four games, he has 518 rushing yards and an outstanding 7.8 yards per carry average. He is a deadly mixture of efficiency and explosiveness, as he combines both a powerful frame with a nimbleness to make cuts that most running backs cannot make.
IU running backs coach Mike Hart said Barkley is the best running back in the country.
“He's going to be a top 10 draft pick,” Hart said. “Those guys only come around once in a lifetime. He's one of the best I've seen since I've been playing or coaching."
Paired with junior quarterback Trace McSorley, there is not a better duo in the country.
“There's not a quarterback, tailback combination in the country right now that's playing at a higher level,” IU Coach Tom Allen said. “They are doing a great, great job. They are dangerous and confident. He's making runs that are impressive, and he can catch the ball out of the backfield.”
Barkley is also one of the best pass catchers on Penn State’s offense and the Nittany Lions are not hurting for explosive pass catchers. Even though he’s a running back, he has Penn State’s highest yards per target rate at 14.0 yards and has a catch rate of 95.8 percent. Barkley has two receiving touchdowns, a team-high 23 receptions and is the most-targeted Nittany Lion.
There are no holes in Barkley’s game. He has not fumbled all season, and he is also one of Penn State's kick off returners.
The only gripe is that Barkley has put up these numbers against weaker opponents as Penn State has beat up on Akron and Georgia State.
The Hoosiers run defense will have its biggest test of the season Saturday trying to limit Barkley.
Per Football Study Hall, IU has the 76th ranked rushing defense in terms of rushing success rate, yet has a strong run defense in terms of not allowing long runs. The entire IU defense has been one of the best in the nation in not giving up explosive plays, which will be crucial against the Nittany Lions.
Against Ohio State in the season opener, IU allowed freshman running back J.K. Dobbins to rush all over the Hoosiers, as he rushed for 181 yards and 6.2 yards per carry. Barkley is significantly better than Dobbins and poses a bigger threat than him.
In recent weeks, IU kept weaker foes rushing attacks in check. Virginia only rushed for 55 yards on 2.2 yards per carry against the Hoosiers. However, because Georgia Southern ran the triple option, the Eagles rushed for 242 yards against IU.
Barkley will not be easy to slow down. IU will likely have to have to bring extra defenders in the box to contain him.
"We got to buy in, watch film and prepare our best and hope for the best,” senior linebacker Tegray Scales. “He's going to make people miss, that's what his qualities are. We got to be great tacklers. We got to lock in on our keys and fly around. “
IU has lost 35 straight games against AP-ranked top-10 teams, the second longest streak in the nation. If that streak is going to end Saturday, IU will have to find a way to contain the Heisman Trophy front runner.
