Barkley is ready to handle additional receiving duties
Saquon Barkley was the lone player to get his own news conference Saturday at Penn State’s media day. And he was prepared for the onslaught of questions that awaited him.
His thoughts on being a potential Heisman Trophy candidate? It’s a great award, but he’s too focused on the season to be excited about it. His NFL draft decision? Hasn’t been made yet, he’s occupied with training camp. His approach to signing autographs? Smile and be kind, because it could change someone’s day.
The questions were fitting considering the space Barkley currently occupies in the college football realm. Aftera breakout sophomore season, he has become a popular Heisman candidacy selection and has solidified himself as Penn State’s mostimportant player.
He emerged as a dominant all-around running back, running for 1,496 yards and 18 touchdowns to go with 402 receiving yards and four receiving touchdowns. It’s likely that we’ll see the receiving part of his game more frequently this fall.
Barkley said coach James Franklin challenged him to become a better receiver this fall. He has responded to that challenge by getting even bigger — he now is up to 230 pounds — and faster. Barkley said he has improved his 40 time from this time a year ago.
“I feel that, and Coach [James] Franklin will agree, that I’m capable of being lined up in the slot, being able to run routes,” Barkley said. “I did a lot of one-on-one reps this summer with the defense, against DBs and linebackers and working those guys and working out with [DaeSean Hamilton] and trying to really fix my routes to become more of a threat in the offense.”
Barkley’s development as a receiver has been ongoing. He had 28 receptions last season, compared to 20 as a freshman. But he more than doubled his receiving yards (161 to 402), and a big reason why was because of his increased role in the offense.
The coaching staff will continue to find matchups Barkley can exploit as a receiver, offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead said.
“That’s part of the thing with the balls that we throw downfield, including the ones with Saquon, it’s part of the process of where can we get him matched up on the person who can’t defend him, like some of the other guys,” Moorhead said. “They say 100 percent of the ballis overthrown or incompleted.So we find a matchup we feel we can exploit, whether it’s Saquon or someone else, we’re going to give him an opportunity to goout and make a play.”
Barkley is confident he’ll be able to handle additional receiver responsibilities. After all, he did manage to add additional weight and speed to his already-explosive game.
“I do feel like I’m capable to do a lot with the ball in my hand in space, and I just want to continue to grow in that area,” he said.