His alma mater failed to beat Ohio State this past Saturday, but Miles Sanders and his NFL team did just fine Sunday.
He’s the starting running back on the league’s only remaining undefeated team, and the Philadelphia Eagles stayed unbeaten, pounding their cross-state rivals, the Pittsburgh Steelers, 35-13.
Sanders did his job, rushing for 78 yards and a touchdown on nine carries.
Miles Sanders' turn! @Eagles
📺: #PITvsPHI on CBS
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/kHi66m0LGX pic.twitter.com/vP9U2hTTqu— NFL (@NFL) October 30, 2022
Sanders grew up near Pittsburgh, starring at Woodland Hills High School before signing to play at Penn State.
He has plenty of friends that are Steelers fans but told reporters after the game that they had been cordial about the in-state rivalry game.
“No, I didn’t get any angry texts,” Sanders said, smiling after the win. “I have to check my Facebook.”
On the season, he’s eighth in the NFL in rushing with 485 yards. He also has four touchdowns and averages 4.6 yards per carry.
Before starting what has been a successful NFL career thus far, Sanders played at Penn State from 2016-18. He spent his first two seasons playing behind Saquon Barkley but got his chance to start in 2018 and made the most of it. Sanders gained 1,274 yards and scored nine touchdowns, averaging 5.8 yards per carry. He declared for the NFL draft. The Woodland Hills High School star stayed in Pennsylvania, going to the Eagles in the second round. Sanders helped the Eagles to the playoffs as a rookie and has remained a fixture in the offense.
The Eagles and Sanders will look to stay undefeated Thursday night in Houston when they play the Texans.