Saquon Barkley didn’t wait long to impress at the NFL Combine putting up 29 reps on the bench press on Thursday, tied for the best by a running back this year.
And on Friday, he showed the world why he’s perhaps the best player in the entire draft. First it was his vertical leap, a 41-inch launch into the air, the best at the combine by a back and eighth best by a running back since 2006. The only player with 25+ bench press reps and a 40+ inch vertical at the 2017 Combine was eventual #1 overall pick DE Myles Garrett (33 reps, 41” vertical)
Then it was the 40-yard dash where Barkley put up an official 4.40 in his first run before stumbling on his second to post a 4.42 on his second run. His time was the second best at the combine by a running back, behind just Nyheim Hines who ran a 4.38 but weighs just 197 pounds to Barkley’s 233.
The former Nittany Lion continued with his workouts on the field. His shuttle run test will happen later in the afternoon.
So far Barkley’s ranks among backs at the combine:
Bench Press: 1st
Vertical: 1st
40: 2nd
SPEED.@saquonb21 runs a 4.41u 40-yard dash! @PennStateFball#NFLCombine
: @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/5g3rLNF7Q0
— NFL (@NFL) March 2, 2018
40-yard dash SIMULCAM!@A_kamara6 vs. @_fournette vs. @EzekielElliott vs. @saquonb21.
And the winner is…#NFLCombine
: @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/WQ3ppgNxKo
— NFL (@NFL) March 2, 2018
