30 college football players with the biggest shoes to fill in 2018

Shoes to Fill: Saquon Barkley

Running backs don’t go No. 1 overall in the NFL Draft anymore, but Saquon Barkley has a strong case to be considered the best all-around prospect in this year’s draft class. In fact, ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper, Jr. lists Barkley at the top of his Big Board.

Pro prospects have been drooling over Barkley for years. At 5-foot-11 and 230 pounds, Barkley has the bulk to be an every-down running back in the NFL, but he has unique speed and agility for his size. He’s also a weapon as a receiver out of the backfield and on kickoff returns.

In 2017, Barkley ran for 1,271 yards and 18 touchdowns and added 632 receiving yards and three touchdowns on 54 catches. He also scored twice on kick returns. In three years at Penn State, Barkley tallied 3,843 rushing yards — more than 1,000 in each season — and 43 scores, as well as 1,195 receiving yards and eight touchdown catches.

Replacing such a talented and productive player seems impossible. Though Penn State head coach James Franklin gave the Nittany Lions a head start on the task by increasing Miles Sanders’ role in the Fiesta Bowl against Washington. And though Sanders only got seven touches against the Huskies, he flashed some of the skill that has the coaching staff excited about his potential in 2018.

Sanders, a 5-foot-11, 215-pound Pittsburgh native, has gained 375 rushing yards and scored three touchdowns on 56 career carries across two seasons. In 2017, Sanders ran for 191 yards and two scores on 31 attempts — a 6.2-yard average that narrowly edged Barkley’s. He also caught six passes for 30 yards.

Andre Robinson will compete for carries, but Sanders is the clear front-runner to be Franklin’s top ball carrier next season, and he has 1,000-yard potential.