Saquon Barkley reacts to Penn State firing James Franklin: 'That's the guy that gave me my shot'

In 2015, one year after James Franklin took over at Penn State, Saquon Barkley arrived. It marked the beginning of a decorated career in Happy Valley as he eventually became the No. 2 overall pick in the NFL Draft.

Earlier this week, Penn State fired Franklin after three consecutive losses, sending a shockwave across college football. Barkley shared his reaction during a press conference Friday, and though he declined to say much about the situation, he reflected on his relationship with Franklin.

Barkley was a four-star recruit out of Whitehall (PA) and became a two-time Big Ten Most Valuable Player at Penn State. He recalled Franklin giving him a shot at the collegiate level, but they also shared a close bond away from the field, as well.

“For me, seeing Coach Franklin get fired definitely hurts,” Barkley said. “That’s the guy that gave me my shot. I know the season’s not going the way we would like right now, but the game before, the national championship the year before, Big Ten championships. At one point, Penn State wasn’t spoken about how it’s been spoken about the last couple of years.

“I’ve just 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 that, he definitely played a big part in my life and the influence in my life, him and as his family. … 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.”

James Franklin had a 104-45 overall record during his time at Penn State, and the 2016 season was the first of six 11-win seasons. Saquon Barkley helped lead that charge as the Nittany Lions won the Big Ten and finished ranked No. 7 in the country following a Rose Bowl appearance.

Penn State won 10 or more games each of the last three years, but came closest to a national championship in 2024. The Nittany Lions went down to the final play in the Orange Bowl against Notre Dame before losing on a last-second field goal. Expectations were high this year, but after a double-overtime loss to Oregon at Beaver Stadium, Penn State dropped matchups to UCLA and Northwestern before choosing to part ways with its head coach.