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Miles Sanders wants to escape Saquon Barkley’s shadow | Penn State running backs preview

After sitting for two seasons behind Saquon Barkley, Sanders seeks to show the form that brought him to the Nittany Lions as the nation's top high school running back in 2015.

Miles Sanders, once the top high school running back in the nation, will finally get his chance to shine.
Miles Sanders, once the top high school running back in the nation, will finally get his chance to shine.Read moreRoss D. Franklin / AP

Check back here for position-by-position breakdowns of the Penn State depth chart leading up to the start of the 2018 season.

We also reviewed the quarterbacksdefensive linemen, receiverslinebackers, defensive backsoffensive line, and special teams. Here are the Nittany Lions' running backs:

Miles Sanders

5-11, 207, Jr., Pittsburgh

This is the big opportunity for Sanders, who entered the freshman class of 2016 as the nation's top high school running back but lingered on the bench behind Saquon Barkley for two seasons. He did make the most of his opportunities, averaging 6.7 yards on 56 rushes with three touchdowns in limited action. Sanders has deceptive power and has the speed to turn the corner on sweeps. He is considered a decent receiver, though he has caught only eight passes in his career. He was the Nittany Lions' primary kickoff returner as a freshman, averaging 20.8 yards, but Barkley held that job for most of last season. He is a little weary of "what-is-it-like-to-take-over-for-Barkley" questions, and wants to make his own mark.

Journey Brown

5-11, 210, R-Fr., Meadville, Pa.

There is plenty of anticipation to see Brown in a game given the insane numbers he accumulated at Meadville High School – 2016 season totals of 2,791 rushing yards and 51 total touchdowns, career totals of 7,027 rushing yards and 106 TDs. He won back-to-back PIAA state 100-meter dash championships, clocking 10.43 seconds as a senior to break the 32-year-old record of former world record holder Leroy Burrell. He ran a 4.36-second time in the 40-yard dash during winter workouts. He showed he could catch the ball out of the backfield at last April's Blue-White Game. Now the task is to see if he can put it all together once the season begins.

Mark Allen

5-6, 190, Gr., Hyattsville, Md.

Allen hasn't had a very productive career in terms of games played (26) and yards gained (251, a 3.9-yard average) in his three seasons. But he is an established team leader and one of the Lions' most popular and respected players, and is on track for a second undergraduate degree.

Johnathan Thomas

5-11, 221, Gr., Peabody, Mass.

Thomas came to Penn State as a running back, redshirted his first year and played in three games at that position the following season before moving to linebacker. After two seasons of mostly playing on special teams, he has returned to the backfield where his career numbers are 11 carries for 42 yards. He will likely continue his special teams duties.

Ricky Slade

5-9, 201, Fr., Woodbridge, Va.

Slade signed with the Nittany Lions as the nation's No. 1 or No. 2 high school running back depending on what recruiting web site you read. He accumulated 1,978 yards rushing and 30 touchdowns as a senior and finished his career with 5,499 yards on the ground. He was named Gatorade player of the year in Virginia last season.