James Franklin and the Penn State Nittany Lions are preparing for their regular-season finale against Maryland in Week 14. The Nittany Lions enter the contest with a 10-1 record and could still make the Big Ten Championship Game.

Ahead of his team’s matchup, Franklin commented on one of his former players who is having a fantastic season in his own right in the NFL. Saquon Barkley signed with the Philadelphia Eagles after spending the first 6 seasons of his career with the New York Giants and, in his first season with the Eagles, Barkley leads the NFL in rushing yards.

Unsurprisingly, the tailback is getting MVP buzz.

“As good of a player as he is, he’s just as good if not a better teammate,” Franklin explained. “To have that type of guy in your locker room, you know, it’s a force multiplier in a lot of ways.”

Through 11 games with the Eagles, Barkley has racked up 1,392 rushing yards with 10 touchdowns. The star RB has already set a new career-high in rushing yards with 6 regular season games to play.

“Not surprised. Proud, happy, and it’s also cool that he’s doing it here (in Pennsylvania) right?” said Franklin.

Last Sunday against the L.A. Rams, Barkley ran for an Eagles franchise-record 255 yards and 2 touchdowns while adding another 47 yards receiving. At DraftKings, he has the third-shortest odds (+475) to win MVP, behind Josh Allen (+150) and Lamar Jackson (+250).

Before getting MVP chatter in the NFL, Barkley starred at Penn State from 2015-17. The tailback trails only Evan Royster in career rushing yards with the Nittany Lions and twice won the Big Ten Most Valuable Player Award. The Giants selected Barkley in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft.