EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The debut of No. 2 overall pick Saquon Barkley had its up and downs Sunday, including a rough first half and a 68-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter of a 20-15 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The touchdown came with the Giants in desperate need of a big play. Barkley eluded three would-be tacklers and broke free down the right sideline for his first career touchdown. Jaguars linebacker Myles Jack admitted he was "shook out of his socks" on the play before Barkley outran free safety Tashaun Gipson Sr. to the sideline.

It put Barkley over 100 yards rushing in his NFL debut.

"It was a great run. That's why we drafted that young man," coach Pat Shurmur said.

It was Barkley's first career run for over 10 yards. He credited his coach and teammates.

"Yeah, that touchdown run was a great call, first of all, and it was blocked up perfect," Barkley said. "The O-line did a great job on the front side creating movement, [tight end] Evan [Engram] did a great job on the backside with a cut block, and I was able to get one-on-one with the guy and make him miss and use my speed on the sideline to get in the end zone."

Barkley finished with 106 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries against what is expected to be one of the league's top defenses.

"I mean, I knew right away. The first run and the first couple of times I tackled him, I said, 'This kid has something,'" defensive lineman Calais Campbell said. "Obviously, you see it on tape, but we didn't get to watch a lot of tape on him. It's his college tape. Coming into the NFL against a team like ours, and making some of the plays he made, that kid's going to be special.

"I traded jerseys with him after the game because I was like, 'OK, if he can stay healthy, he might one day be a Hall of Famer. So now, I'll get his jersey when he's young.'"

It didn't all go smoothly for the Giants and Barkley in his debut. His first half -- and really, the first three quarters -- was a struggle. He had just 12 yards on eight carries in the first half and dropped a pass.