Penn State Football: Week 1 studs and duds against Appalachian State

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STATE COLLEGE, PA – SEPTEMBER 01: Miles Sanders #24 of the Penn State Nittany Lions rushes for a 4 yard touchdown in overtime against the Appalachian State Mountaineers on September 1, 2018 at Beaver Stadium in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /

Running Back Miles Sanders

As a five-star recruit, running back Miles Sanders has waited patiently behind one of college football’s most dynamic running back in Saquon Barkley. Given his first chance to be in the limelight, Sanders turned in a performance his predecessor would have been proud of. Sanders finished the game as the team’s leading rusher, toting the rock 19 times for 91 yards and two scores.

Perhaps most impressive is Sanders being the only Nittany Lion to touch the ball in overtime, including a four-yard touchdown scamper to put the Lions ahead for good. As Head Coach James Franklin mentioned in his post-game presser, Sanders came up to him after the game and relayed ‘I’ve waited two years for this.’ Sanders could have transferred and gone somewhere else to play, but he didn’t. Franklin noted “We’ve made some rules to make it easier to transfer…and the lesson in life is not to leave, to go to the path of least resistance, its battle, and fight, and earn a job and overcome adversity and Miles is a great example of that.”

Sanders is only going to get better and better the more reps he sees. He can make many defenders miss, and he rarely goes down upon first contact. All are pluses for the third-year back out of Pittsburgh. His pass protection skills are a work in progress, but he is making strides. Next week against the Panthers, a homecoming of sorts, will be another huge test for the Penn State back.

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