Saquon Barkley: College football career, stats, highlights, records
Before Saquon Barkley became an NFL star for the New York Giants and the Philadelphia Eagles, he was an electrifying running back at Penn State.
Here's more on Barkley's college career.
The vitals on Saquon Barkley
School: Penn StatePosition: Running backHeight: 6-0Weight: 233 poundsYears active: 2015-2017
Here are Barkley's career stats in college.
YEAR | GAMES | RUSH ATT | RUSH YDS | RUSH TDS | REC | REC YDS | REC TD | KOR TD | Pass TD |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2015 | 11 | 182 | 1,076 | 7 | 20 | 161 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
2016 | 14 | 272 | 1,496 | 18 | 28 | 402 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
2017 | 13 | 217 | 1,271 | 18 | 54 | 632 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Career | 38 | 671 | 3,843 | 43 | 102 | 1,195 | 8 | 2 | 1 |
Barkley, a native of Coplay, Pennsylvania, signed with Penn State over offers that included Notre Dame, Pittsburgh and more, per 247Sports.
What kind of prospect was Barkley in high school?
Barkley was a three-sport athlete in football, basketball and track at Whitehall High School in Whitehall Township, Pennsylvania. Barkley, four-star recruit, was ranked as high as the No. 6 overall running back in the country and the No. 1 player in Pennsylvania, depending on the recruiting service, in the class of 2015.
Barkley finished his senior season with numerous all-state and all-league honors after rushing for 1,856 yards, averaging 8.6 yards per carry and scoring 31 total touchdowns. He also added three interceptions and five tackles for loss. As a junior, Barkley rushed for 1,506 yards and scored 27 total touchdowns. As a sophomore, he rushed for 284 yards and scored five total touchdowns.
In 2014, Barkley was named First-Team all-state (AAAA) by Pennsylvania Football News and was selected as 2014 Mr. PA Football for Class AAA/AAAA. He also made a name for himself in the all-star circuit, participating in The Opening and playing in Offense-Defense Bowl.
In track, Barkley won the gold medal in the eastern Pennsylvania Conference boys 100 meters.
What was Barkley's record in college?
Barkley and Penn State finished a combined 31-9 during his career. While Barkley never reached the College Football Playoff, he did help lead the Nittany Lions to a 2016 Big Ten Championship win. Barkley went 1-1 in New Year's Six Bowl Games in his last two seasons, losing the 2017 Rose Bowl and winning the 2017 Fiesta Bowl. Penn State and Barkley also lost the 2016 TaxSlayer Bowl.
Records set by Barkley
Here are some of the notable records and statistical rankings set by Barkley in college:
- 1st in Penn State career rushing touchdowns (43)
- 1st in Penn State career total touchdowns (53)
- 1st in Penn State career all-purpose yards (5,538)
- 1st in Penn State consecutive game scoring a touchdown (15)
- 1st in Penn State single-bowl-game rush (92 yards)
- 1st in Fiesta Bowl yards for play from scrimmage (92 yards)
- 1st in Penn State career receiving yards by a running back (1,157)
- 1st in Penn State single-season receptions by a running back (54)
- 1st in Penn State single-season receiving yards by a running back (632)
- 1st in Penn State single-game all-purpose yards (358)
- 2nd in Penn State career rushing yards list (3,843)
- 2nd in Penn State career scoring list (318 points)
- 2nd in Penn State career bowl rushing yards (400)
- 2nd in Penn State career bowl receptions (17)
- 2nd in Penn State single-season all-purpose yards (2,329)
- 2nd in Penn State single-season total touchdowns (23)
- 5th in Penn State single-season rushing yards (1,496)
- 5th in Penn State single-season rushing touchdowns (18)
- 7th in Penn State single-season rushing touchdowns (17)
- 10th in Penn State touchdowns responsible for (44)
Which awards did Barkley win in college?
Here are the awards and honors Barkley won in college:
- 4th in Heisman voting (2017)
- Paul Hornung Award (2017)
- Chicago Tribune Silver Football (2017)
- Big Ten's Graham-George Offensive Player of the Year (2016, 2017)
- Big Ten's Ameche-Dayne Running Back of the Year (2016, 2017)
- Big Ten's Rodgers-Dwight Big Ten Return Specialist of the Year (2017)
- Maxwell Award finalist (2017)
- Doak Walker Award finalist (2017)
- Lombardi Award finalist (2017)
- Walter Camp Player of the Year finalist (2017)
- Consensus All-American (2017)
- First-Team All-American RB by AFCA and Walter Camp (2017)
- First-Team All-American all-purpose player by AP, FWAA, Sporting News (2017)
- First-Team All Big Ten RB and return specialist (2017)
- Second Team All-American by Sporting News (2016)
- Third Team All-American by AP (2016)
- Unanimous First-Team All Big Ten RB (2016)
- Co-winner of Chicago Tribune Silver Football (2016)
- Second-Team All Big Ten RB (2015)
- Freshman All-American by FWAA, Sporting News, USA Today (2015)
- Big Ten Freshman of the Year (2015)
- ECAC Rookie of the Year (2015)
Stan Becton joined NCAA.com in 2021 and has since served as an FCS, track and field, cross country and HBCU beat reporter. He has covered numerous NCAA championship events, including the FCS Championship, DI Track & Field Championships and Men's Frozen Four. Additionally, he has covered the 2022 College Football Playoff's Peach Bowl and HBCU sporting events like the Celebration Bowl and Legacy Classic. Stan graduated from Carnegie Mellon University, earning a degree in Professional Writing and playing football as a five-year letterman. You can follow him on Twitter @stan_becton.
The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NCAA or its member institutions.
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