This time last year, you’d be hard-pressed to find many casual college football fans who knew the name Saquon Barkley. With a dazzling freshman season and plenty of program records already in his back pocket, Barkley is no longer a stranger to the national scene. ESPN.com confirmed as much Tuesday, ranking Barkley No. 66 on its countdown of the 100 best college players.

Barkley received high praise by ESPN’s panel of 32 writers/analysts, who gave him an average score of 7.36 out of 10. Barkley is ranked well ahead of notable running backs like Baylor’s Shock Linwood (No. 96), Georgia’s Sony Michel (No. 95), Wisconsin’s Corey Clement (No. 91), and Washington’s Myles Gaskin (No. 73). Pitt standout James Conner, who the Nittany Lions will face on the road in week two, was barely listed above Barkley at No. 63. The top 60 players have yet to be revealed, and Barkley is the lone Nittany Lion recognized thus far.

He leads a talented young crop of tailbacks in Charles Huff’s position room, as redshirt sophmore Mark Allen, redshirt freshman Andre Robinson, and true freshman Miles Sanders jockey for playing time behind No. 26.

Penn State starts fall camp on Thursday in preparation for its season opener against Kent State on Sept. 3 in Beaver Stadium.