College Football Week 1: NFL Draft big board

College Football Week 1: NFL Draft big board – Quarterbacks rule

PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 02: Quarterback Sam Darnold No. 14 of the USC Trojans looks to pass the ball against the Penn State Nittany Lions during the 2017 Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual at the Rose Bowl on January 2, 2017 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

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PASADENA, CA – JANUARY 02: Running back Saquon Barkley #26 of the Penn State Nittany Lions runs with the ball against the USC Trojans during the 2017 Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual at the Rose Bowl on January 2, 2017 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images) /

Saquon Barkley

RB, Penn State

Penn State running back Saquon Barkley is going to be in the Heisman discussion this year and for good reason. While it’s an award that has seemingly become about the quarterback, the rare running back can take it home with a strong year.

Barkley helped put Penn State on his back last season and almost carried them to a win in the Rose Bowl. He is a freak athlete with great size and that blends in well with the running back renaissance at the pro level.

In that aforementioned Rose Bowl, Barkley rushed for 194 yards on the day. It was probably the finest performance of his career, as he saved his best for the biggest game of the year against the Trojans.

He ended the year with exactly 1,496 yards on 272 carries to go with an insane 18 touchdowns. The man found the end zone often. If he can put up those numbers again, he’s going to have a lot more to look forward to than just awards. His draft stock will be through the roof if it isn’t already.

He’s considered by many to be the best running back in college football and it’s hard to argue considering the things that he has done. He’s strong, ridiculously fast and is almost impossible to bring down. He’s earned his spot as the top running back on several big boards.

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