STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- Amid dozens of blue-and-white balloons and no less than four TV screens, Penn State head coach James Franklin sat down in Penn State's war room Wednesday morning and invited the media to watch him greet one of his most important signees: ESPN 300 running back Miles Sanders.
"Before we get started," Franklin told Sanders via video chat, "would you give mom a hug and kiss for me? She's the star."
Sanders, sporting a Penn State tie, leaned over to plant his lips on his mother's cheek as dozens of Penn State coaches, cheerleaders and others applauded. He's the highest-rated offensive pledge for the Nittany Lions and the second-highest overall signee. ESPN ranked the Pittsburgh native as the No. 3 running back in the country and the No. 43 overall recruit in the nation.
Video of running back Miles Sanders being announced to Penn State, courtesy of PSU... https://t.co/DgIFDkVmXS pic.twitter.com/fmTN7fCVI0
— Tom VanHaaren (@TomVH) February 3, 2016
While Sanders remained on FaceTime, Penn State women's soccer coach Erica Walsh took to the dais to announce Sanders' signing a la NFL commissioner Roger Goodell at the NFL draft. In the 2016 national signing day draft, the Nittany Lions select -- from Woodland Hills High School in Pittsburgh, Pa. --- the No. 1 running back in the country: Miles Sanders.
Sanders smiled and rubbed his eye while another round of applause died down. He and the coaching staff then shared a few public words.
Franklin praised Sanders for being a "low-maintenance" recruit and told him that he'll always have his back. "I'll have your back," Sanders responded. Running back coach Charles Huff told Sanders' mother that this staff would take care of him.
Sanders' commitment to Penn State is a boon to the offense, but it didn't always appear to be a lock. Although he first committed in the summer of 2014, rumors ran rampant that Sanders was thinking of decommitting and heading to Michigan State or possibly Pitt. But with his signature Wednesday, he's now officially a Nittany Lion.
"Love you, brother," Franklin told him.
