INDIANAPOLIS — Penn State's Saquon Barkley has a chance to be the first overall player selected in the draft, a feat last pulled off by a running back 22 years ago, when the Cincinnati Bengals picked fellow former Nittany Lion Ki-Jana Carter.
Barkley, whom PFW draft expert Greg Gabriel graded as a top-five prospect, is the increasingly rare breed of feature runner who's equally electrifying using strength, speed and suddeness as a runner, receiver and returner.
After the 5-foot-11, 223-pound Barkley lit up the combine Thursday, tying Georgia's Nick Chubb with 29 (!) bench reps at 225 pounds to lead all RB prospects and charming the media in a polished and articulate 15-minute interview session, he's proving to be as dynamic off the field as he was during three record-breaking seasons in Happy Valley.