Blue White Illustrated

D E C E M B E R   2 7 ,   2 0 1 7 B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M 15 There was never a direct reference or any official statement. Therefore, it's still unknown whether the Fiesta Bowl will be Saquon Barkley's last game for Penn State. But it sure sounded as though his coaches and teammates are preparing for next sea- son without the star junior. During his news conference for bowl media day, head coach James Franklin dis- cussed possible blueprints for a running back committee to be used during the 2018 season. And aBer Franklin spoke, sopho- more Miles Sanders came into the Beaver Stadium media room to speak with re- porters, while Barkley was not made avail- able. As Barkley's primary backup during the regular season, Sanders finished with only 25 carries but averaged just over 7.0 yards per attempt, scoring one touchdown. He also caught five passes for another 26 yards. Next year, his production only fig- ures to increase. If Barkley departs for the NFL DraB fol- lowing the bowl game, it's Sanders who is best positioned to take over the bulk of touches at Penn State's running back posi- tion. ABer waiting for two seasons with Barkley ahead of him, Sanders is ready to embrace the opportunity. Franklin, he said, "talks to me all the time just to make sure I'm doing what I've got to do on and off the field, because when my time comes I just have to take advantage of it." Franklin said he is hopeful that Sanders, who arrived on campus in 2016 as the top all-purpose running back recruit in the country, will be ready to handle an in- creased workload when his moment ar- rives. "We're excited about Miles and his fu- ture, and obviously he's done a really good job behind Saquon Barkley," Franklin said. "You really see every aspect of his game over the past two years developing – ball security, pass protection, and in terms of just getting bigger and stronger. His lower- body development – it's impressive to look at him. The game comes natural for him. He does have some areas to work on, no different than any other player in our pro- gram." With added opportunity and another off- season of development, Sanders has enough confidence in himself to believe that there will be little, if any, drop-off in production at the position. "I think I can probably do the same thing," Sanders said. "When I go out there and play, I just try to take advantage of every rep, every second, every play on the field as far as hurdling, stiff-arming, vision and catching. I want to improve on my catching, but all of that, I think I can do the same thing and help the team win just like [Barkley]." It's unlikely that Sanders will be asked to fill the same role that Barkley has occupied for Penn State the past two seasons. With- current juniors Mark Allen and Johnathan Thomas and freshman Journey Brown all poised to return to the position next sea- son, Franklin envisions more of a by-com- mittee approach, similar to what he employed during his first two seasons as Penn State's head coach. "We're not even sure how the model is going to look," Franklin said. "I think they all assume it's going to be just like it was this past year. We had an unusual situation [with Barkley]. We can be in a situation [in 2018] where we have a little more of a rota- tion than we had last year. It will probably be more of how we did the first couple years." N A T E   B A U E R | N B A U E R @ B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M Sanders eager for expanded role in 2018 season Sidelined in the second half of Penn State's 39-38 loss to Ohio State in Octo- ber, starting left tackle Ryan Bates is back from his left ankle injury. But while he's been practicing with the team in recent weeks, he's been doing it at a different spot. Redshirt freshman Will Fries assumed the starting left tackle position for Penn State's final four games of the regular season. When Bates saw his first action since the injury in Penn State's regular- season finale against Maryland, he played right tackle. And it looks as though he's going to stay there, at least for the time being. "That's the plan right now – me being at right tackle," Bates said. And beyond the Fiesta Bowl? "It's up to Coach. If I play good at right, I'll stay at right. If he wants me to move back to left next spring, next sea- son, I'll move to left. I'll play center if I have to." Given Bates' glowing assessment of the young offensive line's development through the course of the season, cen- ter is an unlikely landing spot. He said that both center Connor McGovern and guard Steven Gonzalez made dramatic improvements while starting all of Penn State's 12 games. With Fries also back, the Lions should have a wealth of experience and talent on the line in 2018. Fries' potential is "through the roof," Bates said. "He could be one of the best tackles in the country. I'm not just say- ing that because he's one of my best friends and my teammate. He has the potential to be a very good offensive lineman in the Big Ten and the country. He's 6-6, 305, and with his frame, he can put on 15 more pounds. He's fast, he's agile, he's smart, he knows the game. He's learned a lot from me, An- drew Nelson, Brendan Mahon, Coach [Matt] Limegrover, and his potential is through the roof." That potential will have to come to fruition under the direction of a new of- fensive coordinator for the bowl game and beyond. But Bates is confident that the Lions have a bright future under the direction of Ricky Rahne, who has been promoted to the post following Joe Moorhead's departure for Mississippi State. "We don't have to learn a totally new offense," Bates said. "A couple of plays here and there will be put in, but Rahne is a good coach and I'm looking forward to what he can do with the offense on this team." –N.B. Healthy Bates set to see action at RT spot

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