It’s been five days since Penn State football fired James Franklin, and now one of the program’s highest-profile players in the NFL has opened up on the Nittany Lions’ decision.
Speaking to reporters ahead of his game against the Minnesota Vikings on Saturday, former Penn State running back Saquon Barkley said Franklin’s firing “definitely hurts” and that he has nothing but respect for his former head coach, who is tied for the second-most wins in program history.
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“I’m not going to speak too much on that. For me, seeing Coach Franklin get fired definitely hurts. That’s the guy who gave me my shot,” Barkley said Friday while standing next to his locker room inside the Philadelphia Eagles‘ NovaCare Complex in Philadelphia to reporters.
“… I got nothing but respect for Coach Franklin, not just as a coach, but as a man. I don’t really use the word ‘father figure’ because my father is in my life, but whatever term is underneath it, he definitely played a big part in my life and the influence of my life, him and his family.”
REQUIRED READING: James Franklin to appear on ‘College GameDay’ following Penn State firing
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Barkley, who played at Penn State from 2015-2017, finished his remarks about his former head coach by mentioning that he is thinking of Franklin and his family during this time and that is where his focus is.
“That’s really the first (thought),” Barkley said. “Worried about the family and worried about him. Yes, he’s making a lot of money, of course. But he put a lot of himself into that program over there and it sucks to see him go.”
Barkley is one of the most accomplished players from Franklin’s 12 seasons in Happy Valley. A three-year player for the Nittany Lions, Barkley finished his career in State College as the program’s all-time all-purpose yard leader (5,538 total yards), all-time rushing touchdown scorer (43) and total touchdown scorer (53). He finished fourth in Heisman Trophy voting in 2017, the then-18th player in program history to finish in the top 10 of Heisman voting.
Franklin and Barkley led the program to its first-ever Big Ten championship game title in 2016, a game in which the Nittany Lions came back from a 28-14 deficit against No. 6 Wisconsin to beat the Badgers 38-31.
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The Super Bowl-winning running back is the highest drafted player from the Franklin era, a feat he set in 2018 when the New York Giants took him No. 2 overall in the NFL draft. He is one of two players to be taken in the top five of the NFL draft who played for Franklin at Penn State, with the other being Abdul Carter.
Franklin was fired on Sunday, Oct. 12 after Penn State dropped its third consecutive Big Ten loss and second to an unranked opponent in Northwestern. Once the No. 2-ranked team in the country, Penn State, who will be coached on Saturday at Iowa by interim coach Terry Smith, sits at the bottom of the Big Ten with a 0-3 conference record.
According to USA TODAY, Franklin is owed just under $50 million for his buyout from Penn State, which is the second-highest buyout for a coach in college football history.
Franklin is set to make his first public statement and appearance since his firing at some point during tomorrow’s edition of ESPN’s “College GameDay.” The former Penn State coach is scheduled to be live in person tomorrow for the exclusive interview, which will take place at the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia.
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This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Saquon Barkley opens up about James Franklin’s firing at Penn State
