We’re in that awesome time of year when college football teams are moving towards their their off-season peak and a ton of videos are beginning to surface. This time the video is coming from one of Penn State’s strongest lifters in the program’s recent history, running back Saquon Barkley.
The video shared yesterday by @nittanylions1 on Twitter features Penn State’s Barkley hitting a big 405 lb clean PR. This newly recorded 405 lbs pushes the program’s highest clean record even further.
Keep in mind, Barkley is a running back and not a linemen. To top it off, Barkley pulls off the lift (pun intended) in Nike training shoes and no belt. Currently, Barkley’s stats have him at 5′ 11″ and weighs around 222 lbs.
Yes, his form wasn’t the best, and his ending rack position definitely needs a little work, but there’s no question behind his explosiveness and strength. Mind you, this is an athlete who rushed over 1,000 yards recording seven touchdowns his freshman year.
Last March during Penn State’s max-out week, Barkley tied the school’s record for the biggest power clean at 390 lbs (which was held by a linemen). Check out the Twitter video below shared on Josh Gattis Penn State’s wide receiving coach’s page.
#BeastMode the best RB in the country @saquonb21 show me anyone who can do this! 390 LB Clean no strap!#FreakShow pic.twitter.com/vvA0G8NIPg
— Josh Gattis (@Coach_Gattis) March 1, 2016
In one year Barkley has improved his clean by 15 lbs, which is exceptionally impressive especially for the weight he’s putting up.
Barkley can also squat big weight. At the same time in March last year, Barkley – 19 years old at the time – squatted 495 lbs for seven reps.
Check out his impressive depth and speed.
Speaking of big running back squats, let’s not forget about LSU’s Derrius Guice who recently put up a 650 lb squat.
Todays Freaky Friday so Derrius squats 650 @DhaSickest #Freaks pic.twitter.com/wtI9obhu6u
— Aaron Moffitt (@AaronTMoffitt) June 23, 2017
Running backs rely on explosiveness to be successful on and off the field. Hopefully as we progress into the summer months we continue to see more videos surface of football player’s biggest lifts.
Feature image screenshot from @houseofhighlights Instagram page.
