James Franklin ‘not surprised’ by MVP-caliber season from Saquon Barkley

Finding a fresh start in Philadelphia this offseason, Eagles superstar Saquon Barkley is chasing the first NFL MVP award of his career, potentially becoming the first Penn State football letterman to win the honor. But even now seven years into his professional career, Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin isn’t surprised by Barkley’s production in the City of Brotherly Love.

“Well, I think it’s a couple of things, right? It’s an example of: he’s at a really good place, really well-run organization, arguably the best o-line coach in the NFL, behind arguably one of the best offensive lines,” Franklin said when asked about Barkley’s play during his weekly post-practice media scrum Wednesday evening. “And we all knew, right, that, given the opportunity and put in a favorable situation, he’d have a chance to maximize it.

“I think the other thing with him that the Eagles are learning, and I talked to them about is just, as good of a player, he is just as good, if not a better, teammate. And that’s unusual. So to have that type of guy in your locker room and that type of leader and that type of presence on your team, it’s a force multiplier in a lot of ways. So, I’m not surprised.

“I don’t follow it closely. It’s not like I’ve watched an Eagles game. But I’ve seen highlights. We’ve texted. I know him and Fumi [Franklin] have texted. So not surprised. Proud, happy.

“And it’s also cool that he’s doing it here, right? I mean, it’d be cool if he was doing it on on the West Coast. But, it’s even cooler he’s doing it right here in his backyard. There’s a huge crossover contingent of Penn State fans and Eagles fans, which is cool. I’m just happy for him and the Eagles organization. It’s a win-win for everybody, which is really ultimately what you want.”

Will Saquon Barkley become the first Penn State football player to win an NFL MVP?

© Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

A change of scenery has spurred a statistical revitalization for Saquon Barkley in 2024.

The former Penn State football star has 1,392 rushing yards through 11 games, already a new career high. His 6.2 yards per carry are 1.2 yards better than the 5 yards per carry that he averaged in his Rookie of the Year campaign in 2018.

At this pace, Barkley seems likely to become the first non-quarterback to win the NFL MVP in 14 seasons. Compared to the 2012 League MVP, Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, the former Nittany Lion has 156 more rushing yards, 72 more receiving yards, and five more touchdowns at the same point in the season. Peterson finished 2012 with 2,314 all-purpose yards and 13 touchdowns.

Should Saquon Barkley win NFL MVP this year? The last non QB to win the award was Adrian Peterson in 2012 #WeAre #FlyEaglesFly #SaquonBarkley #MVP pic.twitter.com/PIXqTLaKiQ

— Basic Blues Nation (@BasicBlues) November 26, 2024

Barkley and the 9-2 Eagles return to action Sunday afternoon against the Baltimore Ravens.

Thank you for reading Basic Blues Nation, one of the fastest-growing outlets covering Penn State athletics. Part of the Full Ride network, we are an alumni-owned and operated, credentialed media outlet dedicated to providing you with updated and reliable insights for all your favorite Nittany Lion sports. Whether it’s Penn State football, basketball, wrestling, or anything in between, you can find it all on Basic Blues Nation!

Please follow us on our social channels, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube, and subscribe to our newsletter on Substack for breaking news and notifications. For feedback, questions, or concerns, please email us at [email protected] or direct message us on social media.