Penn State alum Miles Sanders aims to keep Lions' Super Bowl winning streak alive

Miles Sanders has already continued the Big 33 game tradition of having an alum in every Super Bowl. Now, the former Penn State running back and current Philadelphia Eagle aims to keep a Lions streak alive.

A one-time Penn State player has been on the last seven NFL championship teams. Sanders could make it eight if he and the NFC champs can topple AFC representative Kansas City in Super Bowl LVII on Sunday in Arizona. Kickoff is at 6:30 p.m. on FOX.

“There are 30 teams that would love to be here, so I’m just kind of taking it all in,” Sanders said back on Monday. “I dreamed of this moment, so that’s kind of where I’m at. There’s a lot going on, so I’m just trying to embrace it.

“I’ve heard about it, but I just wanted to live it.”

It could be Sanders’ last game with the Birds. The 25-year-old is in the final year of his contract. And, a new deal is not yet in place. The Pittsburgh native has had a tremendous season so far. He carried 259 times for 1,269 yards and 11 touchdowns, two of which came in last Sunday’s 31-7 NFC title game win over San Franciso. It’s a performance he hopes to exceed on the sport’s biggest stage.

Speaking of the Steel City, Sanders said the hometown that built him before his time at Penn State also serves as something of an inspiration.

“It’s something that you dream of since you were little. I grew up as a Steelers fan. I’m from Pittsburgh, and used to all the winning and championships going on growing up. So, to be here in the same situation where I used to look up to the Steelers, it’s pretty awesome.”

James Franklin, Miles Sanders, built a mutual respect at Penn State

Sanders has not been shy about acknowledging the fact that his early years at Penn State were hard. He sat behind good friend Saquon Barkley for two years, amassing just 56 carries as a freshman and sophomore. But, in year three, he took over the starting job and rushed for 1,274 yards and nine touchdowns. After deciding to leave school early, Sanders was a second-round pick of the Eagles in the 2019 NFL Draft and has been in Philadelphia ever since.

During one of his Super Bowl media availabilities, the back was asked to reflect on his time at Penn State and his relationship with Franklin.

“I got to give a lot of credit to James Franklin,” Sanders said. “He’s doing a great job at Penn State and bringing the best players he can and trying to develop boys into men. He takes education very seriously, and that’s what stuck out to me.

“I have to give a lot of credit to Penn State and how they changed me as a man.”

Franklin, for his part, praised Sanders during his own media availability back on Tuesday.

“Miles is very awesome,” Franklin said. “We’re proud of him. He’s done really well, not just on the field and being an impact player for the Eagles, but really how he’s represented himself off the field as well. He’s been like that the whole way, all the way since we recruited him out of high school; he’s just been a phenomenal representative of Penn State and our football program.

“He really kind of fits the model of what everybody is looking for, specifically now in the NFL. He’s a guy that not only can run a ball between the tackles but also get the ball to the edge but also be an impact in the passing game and takes great pride in his pass protection. Really happy for him.”