50 Facts About Miles Sanders

Early Life and High School Achievements

Miles Sanders, known as "Boobie Miles," has a rich history that began in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

1. Birth and Hometown: Born on May 1, 1997, Sanders grew up in Swissvale, a borough nine miles east of downtown Pittsburgh.
2. High School Career: Attended Woodland Hills High School, where he was a three-year starter at running back.
3. Mr. Football Award: Won Pennsylvania's Mr. Football award during his senior year.
4. Under Armour All-America Game: Participated in this prestigious event, showcasing his skills on a national stage.
5. High School MVP: Named the Pennsylvania MVP of the Big 33 Game after scoring three touchdowns.
6. Track and Field: Competed in the 100, 200, and 4×100 relay events during high school.
7. High School Stats: Finished his high school career with 4,573 yards on 508 carries and 59 touchdowns.
8. High School Awards: Named to the Scout All-America team and selected as 2015 Mr. PA Football for Class AAA/AAAA.
9. East Player of the Year: Earned the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s East Player of the Year honors in 2015.
10. Terrific 25: Selected to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review’s Terrific 25 in 2015.

College Career at Penn State

Sanders chose Penn State University, where he continued to impress on the field.

11. College Choice: Chose Penn State over several other offers, including the local Pittsburgh Panthers.
12. Senior Season: Finished his senior season with 1,274 rushing yards, ranking No. 2 in the Big Ten.
13. Kickoff Returns Record: Set the season record for kickoff returns with 33 in 2016.
14. Kickoff Return Yards: Holds the second-highest kickoff return yards in a season with 688 yards in 2016.
15. Red Worrell Award: Named the 2018 Red Worrell Award winner for exemplary conduct and improvement during spring practice.
16. Rushing Yards Per Game: Averaged 98.0 rushing yards per game during his senior season.
17. Rushing Yards Per Carry: Averaged 5.79 yards per carry, ranking No. 5 in the Big Ten.
18. Rushing Touchdowns: Finished seventh in the Big Ten with nine rushing touchdowns.
19. All-Purpose Yards: Ranked seventh in all-purpose yards per game with 108.7.
20. Letterwinner: A four-year letterwinner at Penn State, appearing in 12 games with one start during his sophomore season.

NFL Draft and Rookie Season

Sanders declared for the NFL draft after his junior year and was picked by the Philadelphia Eagles.

21. NFL Draft: Selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the second round of the 2019 NFL draft.
22. Rookie Season Stats: Recorded 818 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns.
23. Receiving Stats: Had 50 receptions for 509 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns.
24. PFWA All-Rookie Team: Earned a spot on the PFWA All-Rookie Team.
25. First NFL Game: Played in the NFC Wild Card Round against the Seattle Seahawks, rushing 14 times for 69 yards.
26. Rookie Season Comparison: His rookie season stats placed him among the top rookie running backs in terms of receiving yards.
27. Draft Process: Considered a top prospect at running back due to his speed, power, and receiving skills.
28. Draft Selection: Selected 53rd overall by the Eagles.
29. Career Milestones: Achieved several career milestones, including becoming one of only six backs in the NFL with a career yard per carry over five yards on 500+ carries.
30. Career Highs: In 2022, achieved a career-high 1,269 rushing yards, ranking fifth in the NFL.

Challenges and Triumphs

Sanders faced several challenges but also had notable triumphs throughout his career.

31. Injury in 2020: Missed the first game of the 2020 regular season due to a hamstring injury.
32. Performance Against Pittsburgh Steelers: Rushed for 80 yards and two touchdowns in Week 5 of the 2020 season.
33. Performance Against Baltimore Ravens: Had nine carries for 118 yards in Week 6 of the 2020 season.
34. Performance Against New Orleans Saints: Rushed for 115 yards and two touchdowns in Week 14 of the 2020 season.
35. Career Lows in 2020: Finished the 2020 season with career lows in carries, yards, and yards per carry.
36. Three-Down Back: Considered a three-down back, capable of performing well in both running and passing situations.
37. Quarterback Impact: Performance influenced by the quarterbacks he played under, including Carson Wentz and Jalen Hurts.
38. Offensive Line Impact: Benefited from the Philadelphia Eagles' strong offensive line, including Jason Kelce and Lane Johnson.
39. Passing Game Involvement: In 2019, had 50 receptions on 63 targets for 509 yards and three touchdowns.
40. Target Paces: In 2020, was on pace for around 70 targets, which would have tied for the top five at the RB position.

Transition to Carolina Panthers

In 2023, Sanders signed with the Carolina Panthers, marking a new chapter in his career.

41. Frank Reich's Coaching Style: Under Frank Reich, saw an increase in targets and involvement in the passing game.
42. Scott Fitterer's Belief: The general manager believes in Sanders's pass-catching ability and plans to utilize him more.
43. Highest Paid Free Agent RB: Became the highest-paid free agent running back this offseason.
44. Carolina Panthers Offense: Faces both challenges and opportunities in the Panthers' wide-open offense.
45. Reunion with Duce Staley: Excited about reuniting with running backs coach Duce Staley.
46. Coach Frank Reich's Praise: Praised by Coach Reich as a three-down back who can do a little bit of everything.
47. Fantasy Football Value: Remains a valuable asset in fantasy football due to his versatility.
48. Fantasy Football Profile: Highlighted as a value pick at his current ADP in 2023.
49. Touchdowns: Scored 11 touchdowns in 2023, more than doubling his previous career total.
50. Future Outlook: Faces a crucial period in his career as he adjusts to a new team and system with the Panthers.

Miles Sanders: A Versatile Talent

Miles Sanders has proven himself as a dynamic and versatile running back. From his high school days in Pittsburgh to his standout performances at Penn State, Sanders has consistently shown his ability to excel. His transition to the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles and now the Carolina Panthers highlights his adaptability and skill. With career highs in rushing yards and touchdowns, Sanders continues to be a valuable asset both on the ground and in the passing game. His reunion with coach Duce Staley and the confidence shown by the Panthers in making him the highest-paid free agent running back this offseason speak volumes about his potential. As Sanders embarks on this new chapter with the Panthers, fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see how he continues to evolve and impact the game.