Niner Noise
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2018 NFL Scouting Combine: Top 5 running backs to watch

By Florito Maniego

GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 30: Running back Saquon Barkley #26 of the Penn State Nittany Lions runs the football 92 yards to score a touchdown against the Washington Huskies during the first half of the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium on December 30, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 30: Running back Saquon Barkley #26 of the Penn State Nittany Lions runs the football 92 yards to score a touchdown against the Washington Huskies during the first half of the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium on December 30, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images) /
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EAST LANSING, MI – NOVEMBER 04: Saquon Barkley #26 of the Penn State Nittany Lions tries to escape the tackle of Joe Bachie #35 of the Michigan State Spartans during the first half at Spartan Stadium on November 4, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI – NOVEMBER 04: Saquon Barkley #26 of the Penn State Nittany Lions tries to escape the tackle of Joe Bachie #35 of the Michigan State Spartans during the first half at Spartan Stadium on November 4, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

No. 1: Saquon Barkley (Penn State)

Regarded as the best running back prospect of 2018, Penn State’s Saquon Barkley will surely headline the combine. NFL Media analyst Daniel Jeremiah even determined Barkley as the best overall prospect heading into the draft.

Many mock drafts have Barkley in the top five, showing how special of a talent he is. If for any reason Barkley falls to the ninth or 10th pick, San Francisco should not even ponder to pick him up.

Barkley’s work ethic on and off the field is evident as his physique is just as good as his productivity. Listed at 5-foot-11 and 223 pounds, Barkley has a unique blend of speed and power.

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Walter Football projects Barkley to run a 4.49 40-time at the combine. With his agility, elusiveness and explosiveness, Barkley easily jukes defenders away that leads him to gain big yardage.

A perfect play to display Barkley’s talents is his 97-yard opening kick-return touchdown against Ohio State on Oct. 28, 2017:

Barkley has the potential to become an every-down starter, or even an All-Pro player one day, in the NFL. Barkley’s skills and attributes are so exceptional that NFL.com even compared the Nittany Lions running back to Hall of Famer Barry Sanders.

Next: San Francisco 49ers: 3 biggest questions for the 2018 offseason

Barkley is a generational running back, who every NFL team would undoubtedly love to have. Especially with Barkley’s superb receiving abilities, the 49ers might even trade up just to take such a well-rounded player as him.