New York Giants Draft Profile: RB, Saquon Barkley
An NFL draft profile of potential New York Giants draft choice, Saquon Barkley.
It’s as unique as a four-leaf clover to see the New York Giants selecting number two in the draft, but after a rough season that saw a coaching change, here we are. Dave Gettlemen steps into his new job with two choices, either to choose an heir to the Eli Manning throne or a different position of need.
Many of the reports are indicating that Gettlemen is not interested in the new Eli Manning in this draft. It also doesn’t sound like he wants to move out of the number two pick. Saquon Barkley out of Penn State has been on the lips of many experts trying to figure out what the Giants will do at number two. December football in this region is about running the football. Let’s take a look at Barkley.
| Rushing | Receiving | Scrimmage | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | School | Conf | Class | Pos | G | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | TD | Plays | Yds | Avg | TD |
| *2015 | Penn State | Big Ten | FR | RB | 11 | 182 | 1076 | 5.9 | 7 | 20 | 161 | 8.1 | 1 | 202 | 1237 | 6.1 | 8 |
| *2016 | Penn State | Big Ten | SO | RB | 14 | 272 | 1496 | 5.5 | 18 | 28 | 402 | 14.4 | 4 | 300 | 1898 | 6.3 | 22 |
| *2017 | Penn State | Big Ten | JR | RB | 13 | 217 | 1271 | 5.9 | 18 | 54 | 632 | 11.7 | 3 | 271 | 1903 | 7.0 | 21 |
| Career | Penn State | 671 | 3843 | 5.7 | 43 | 102 | 1195 | 11.7 | 8 | 773 | 5038 | 6.5 | 51 |
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This young man is explosive and not only carrying the football. Over three years at Penn State Barkley improved his ability as a pass catcher. By his junior year he nearly posted triple the amount of receptions he did as a freshman. On paper Barkley is the type of threat we don’t see in a college class very often.
MEASURABLES
HEIGHT: 6-0
WEIGHT: 233 POUNDS
ARM LENGTH: 31 3/8″
HANDS: 9.5″
At the Combine, he posted a 4.40 in the forty yard dash, 29 reps in the bench press and a 41 inch vertical jump, all leading the Combine at the position.
Here are some thoughts from Lance Zierlein:
"Strengths Compact frame carries muscular, powerful trunk. High tempo runner with urgent underpinnings as his core. Offensive lineman’s best friend with talent to dismiss penetration with deft footwork. Runs with optimal pad level. Elite wiggle triggered by fluid hips.Weaknesses More elusive than he is powerful. Has modest broken tackle numbers during his career at Penn State. Plays with inconsistent leg drive through contact when working between the tackles. Will need to develop a more north/south mindset as a pro."
Let’s look at some video:
The explosiveness is clear. This guy can run around or past anyone in the league right now. He can juke, he can make people miss or simply out run them. When catching the football he does so with his hands. That’s the mark of a guy that will be a valuable component of an offense for a long time.
He does shy away from the contact a bit. You would like to see him lower his shoulder a bit more and finish his runs, but that is workable. He will be a fine pro and a player the Giants fans will love.