With their first pick in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft, the Philadelphia Eagles chose running back Miles Sanders out of Penn State with the 53rd overall selection.
The Pittsburgh native became the Nittany Lions' full-time starter for the first time in 2018 and gained 1,274 yards rushing (15th in the nation) on 220 carries for an average of 5.79 yards per carry and nine touchdowns in 13 games. His 98 rushing yards per contest ranked fourth in the Big Ten. He also added 24 receptions for 134 yards last season.
Sanders, a 5-11, 211-pound underclassman who will turn 22 on May 1, was a second-team All-Big Ten choice and Penn State's Most Valuable Offensive Player in 2018.
This is the highest draft pick used by the Eagles on a running back since 2009 when the franchise's all-time leading rusher LeSean McCoy was also selected 53rd overall.
Rated the No. 1 running back prospect in the nation and the top overall prospect in all of Pennsylvania by most recruiting services coming out of Woodland Hills High School, Sanders finished fifth in WPIAL Class AAAA history with 4,573 yards rushing on 508 carries and 59 touchdowns. A team captain, Sanders led Woodland Hills to the state championship game as a senior.
