Big Ten Football 2017 preview

STATE COLLEGE, PA - OCTOBER 08: Saquon Barkley #26 of the Penn State Nittany Lions runs with the ball against the Maryland Terrapins during the game at Beaver Stadium on October 8, 2016 in State College, Pennsylvania. Penn State defeated Maryland 38-14. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

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STATE COLLEGE, PA – OCTOBER 08: Saquon Barkley #26 of the Penn State Nittany Lions runs with the ball against the Maryland Terrapins during the game at Beaver Stadium on October 8, 2016 in State College, Pennsylvania. Penn State defeated Maryland 38-14. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Offensive Player of the Year: Saquon Barkley

If someone asked you who the strongest player, pound-for-pound, was in the Big Ten, who would you say? It almost certainly would be a big offensive or defensive lineman, right? You’d be wrong. Saquon Barkley and his 5-foot-11, 223-pound frame are truly something else.

In fact, the Nittany Lions have been praising his work ethic in the weight room as he lifts and squats as much as the big boys. He’s a gym rat, in the truest sense of the word.

This offseason, he’s been getting stronger and working on trimming his 40-time. That’s bad news for the rest of the conference. A faster, stronger Barkley is something that nightmares are made of, especially since he was already regarded as the best back in the conference.

Need proof? Urban Meyer has even stated that Barkley and Ezekiel Elliott comparisons are ‘very fair.’ Elliott dominated the conference for a couple of seasons at Ohio State before leaving for the NFL prior to his senior year in 2016. Since, he’s become one of the best running backs in the league.

Barkley is coming off a 1,496-yard, 18-touchdown season in 2016 and is poised to break both of those marks. If I were a betting man, I’d say he approaches 2,000 rushing yards and 20 scores. He will run away with the conference’s offensive player of the year award.