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Penn State Football: Week 7 Studs and Duds against Michigan State

By Corey Hunter

STATE COLLEGE, PA - OCTOBER 13: Miles Sanders #24 of the Penn State Nittany Lions rushes for 78 yards against Khari Willis #27 of the Michigan State Spartans and David Dowell #6 of the Michigan State Spartans on October 13, 2018 at Beaver Stadium in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
STATE COLLEGE, PA - OCTOBER 13: Miles Sanders #24 of the Penn State Nittany Lions rushes for 78 yards against Khari Willis #27 of the Michigan State Spartans and David Dowell #6 of the Michigan State Spartans on October 13, 2018 at Beaver Stadium in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /
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RB – Miles Sanders

Penn State running back Miles Sanders did what the entirety of teams like Utah State, Arizona State, Central Michigan, Indiana, and Northwestern couldn’t.  And that was to rush for 100 or more yards against the vaunted Spartans defense.  In fact, Sanders fell just seven yards shy of rushing for more yards against Michigan State than all of the previously mentioned teams combined!

Sanders used big gains of 78-yards and 48-yards to burst the Spartans impenetrable rushing defense.  Michigan State came into Saturday’s contest allowing just a national-best 33.8 yards rushing per game.  However, Penn State made it a point, nearly from the opening whistle, to show that they had the muscle up front to open lanes that Sanders could run through.

The junior running back had something to prove as well.  Sanders entered Saturday’s contest coming off his worst performance of the season, rushing for only 43 yards in a loss to Ohio State two weeks prior.  After this last game, Sanders has now eclipsed 700 rushing yards on the season along with scoring a touchdown in three consecutive contests.  Overall, Sanders ranks second in the Big Ten in rushing and touchdowns behind Wisconsin’s Jonathan Taylor.

For his part, Sanders has been a quiet leader for the Penn State offense.  Quarterback Trace McSorley has been its more vocal leader, but Miles Sanders has been doing a lot of talking with his feet.  Not to say that Sanders can’t improve.  However, on a day when Saquon Barkley was in attendance, Sanders showed the Nittany Lion faithful that they are still in prime position with regards to their running back spot.

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