We all knew that Penn State running back Saquon Barkley was going to perform well at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis this week. To many, he’s the best all-around prospect in the entire 2018 NFL Draft and will be a likely top-five pick.
We just didn’t realize how absolutely absurd of an athlete the All-American is.
Earlier in the week, Barkley put up 29 reps at 225 pounds in the bench press. For example, that’s double the reps massive former Oklahoma offensive tackle Orlando Brown racked up. Barkley also came in at 233 pounds with a 6-foot frame. That in and of itself is stunning.
But it’s what Barkley did during drills Friday in Indianapolis that has him as the talk of the NFL world. Dude put up an unofficial 4.41 40-yard dash at 233 pounds. Check it out here.
Saquon Barkley runs a 4.41 40-yard dashhttps://t.co/1wYC3g8P6t
— 2024 NFL Draft (@DraftRT) March 2, 2018
For comparison’s sake, Ezekiel Elliott ran a 4.47 40-yard dash at 6-foot and 223 pounds during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine.
Barkley also put up a 41-inch vertical. Again to compare to Elliott for a second, his number came in at 32.5 inches.
😱😱😱@saquonb21 with the 41" vertical jump! @PennStateFball #NFLCombine https://t.co/OlpmMGYSV7
— NFL (@NFL) March 2, 2018
There has been some talk that the Cleveland Browns might be best served selecting Barkley No. 1 overall, then doubling down in the backfield with a quarterback at No. 4. Even if that doesn’t come to fruition, it’s now hard to believe Barkley will last past the fourth pick. The New York Giants and Indianapolis Colts, picking No. 2 and No. 3 respectively, could both use a running back of Barkley’s ilk.
In any event, what we’ve seen from Barkley this week in Indianapolis has potentially cemented his status as the best all-around player in the 2018 NFL Draft.