Enter the 2018 NFL Draft, Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley was seen as a generational prospect with a rare combination of speed, strength and instincts. He had the strength to get through a defensive lineman and the elusiveness to slip out of a defender’s grasp.

Barkley’s college tape was reminiscent of all-time running back Barry Sanders, and his similarities to the Hall of Fame quarterback continued into the NFL. Like Sanders, Barkley was set up for failure when New York Giants he chose with choice no. 2 general.

Fortunately for Barkley, the Giants didn’t recognize his value and allowed him to cross state lines to sign with the Eagles in free agency this offseason. After years of languishing in a lackluster offense, Barkley looked rejuvenated during his first season in Philadelphia.

Early in the second quarter of Philadelphia’s 28-23 win over the team Jacksonville Jaguars in week 9, the star running back did something no one seems to have witnessed before.

Facing a third-and-6 from Jacksonville’s 46-yard line, Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts threw a check pass to Barkley. With defenders closing in, it looked like a routine play that would probably result in a goal. Instead, Barkley went to work. He went past the first defender, came out of a tackle attempt by a second defender, then – with his back to the defense – leapt into the air and over a third defender.

The move spread across social media and throughout the NFL world like wildfire. Instantly the obstacle back was born. Of course, it wouldn’t be long before kids all over the country were trying to get over the dangerous obstacle themselves.

A recent video posted on social media by former ESPN radio host Trey Wingo showed a student-athlete attempting Barkley’s hurdle on a return.

Predictably, it didn’t go as planned.

While the punt returner was able to avoid the first tackle attempt, his hurdle on a diving tackler was uncontrolled and ended with him landing on the head of an opposing player. The player immediately grabbed the returning player, spun him around and then slammed him to the ground.

This was just one of the many ways a hurdle attempt can lead to disaster, but this is the type of result most aspiring athletes can expect when attempting a back hurdle. Not many running backs possess Barkley’s 41-inch vertical leap, which ranks in the 96th percentile, on MockDraftable. Disaster awaits anyone who doesn’t have the explosive ability to stop suddenly and immediately jump nearly four feet into the air.

When soccer players leave their feet, they open themselves up to being hit in the lower body. It’s a vulnerable position to be in, as minimal contact in the air could be enough to knock them off balance or obstruct their landing zone.

For now, it’s best to leave the hurdle back to Barkley, who has established himself as one of the best rushers in the league this season.

In New York, Barkley ran behind a Giants offensive line that ranked as the second-worst unit in the league behind ESPN’s run-block win rate value. With the Eagles, Barkley has found a supporting cast that is far more talented. Philadelphia’s offensive line rated as the league’s best run-blocking unit in 2023 and second-best in 2022. The Eagles are 11th with a 72% run-block win rate until Week 9 of the 2024 season. While that’s a dip from previous years, it’s given Barkley the inch of daylight he needs.

Through eight games this season, Barkley has posted 925 rushing yards and six touchdowns while adding 146 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns on 20 receptions.