The Moment Penn State Coach Knew Eagles RB Saquon Barkley is Special

Saquon Barkley is a finalist to win the NFL MVP Award for the first time in his career, and one win shy of helping power the Philadelphia Eagles into the Super Bowl.

Barkley has made a career out of making the astonishing plays look routine, and for being the focal point of his team’s offense, whether it was during his All-American career at Penn State or this season seemingly as the missing piece of the Eagles’ championship puzzle.

However, according to former Penn State offensive coordinator, and current Akron head coach, Joe Moorhead, there was one game in particular during his time in Happy Valley where he realized that in Barkley, he had a rare talent on his hands.

“You can pick any play from the two years I was there in 2016 and 2017,” Moorhead told NFL Insider Matt Lombardo. “But that 2017 game in Iowa most accurately encapsulates a guy just taking over a game.”

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That night, Barkley cemented his status as one of the top NFL Draft prospects and one of the greatest running backs to wear a Penn State uniform, when he rushed for 211 yards and a touchdown while adding 94 receiving yards in the Nittany Lions’ 21-19 comeback victory.

Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles, NFL — Dec 29, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) runs with the ball past Dallas Cowboys safety Juanyeh Thomas (30) at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

“You saw a little bit of why he was special and different every single day in, in every single thing that he does,” Moorehead said. “From the way he attacks strength and conditioning workouts, his attention to detail in meetings, his leadership, and obviously when you get out on the practice field, he would do something, and you kind of look to your left, look to your right and ask anyone who would listen ‘did that just happen?’”

This season, Barkley came just 100 yards shy of breaking Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson’s single-season rushing record, while capping the 2024 campaign with a career-high 2,005 yards and 13 touchdowns.

When the Eagles take on the Washington Commanders, with a Super Bowl berth at stake, Philadelphia may need Barkley to replicate the magic that was on display against the Hawkeyes, back in 2017.