Saquon Barkley, fresh off a Super Bowl victory with the Philadelphia Eagles, just made an eye-catching gesture to CJ Cowley, the No. 1 running back in the Class of 2027.
The former Penn State star and NFL standout told Cowley that if he commits to the Nittany Lions, he’d personally make sure he gets to wear the legendary No. 26 jersey – Barkley’s own iconic number.
Cowley, a highly sought-after recruit with offers from over 20 schools, revealed his conversation with Barkley left him in awe.
“I actually talked to Saquon Barkley a few times about Penn State. It was great, I’m not gonna lie, I was a fanboy talking to one of the best running backs in the world. A Super Bowl running back,” he said.
“Saquon was just like if I go to Penn State, he’ll deliver 26 for me – the number. I didn’t believe it! The coach says he’s not lying. It’s one of the coolest moments in my life.”
Cowley, a Birmingham, Alabama native, has Auburn as his presumed frontrunner, but Barkley’s personal involvement could tilt the scales.
Penn State head coach James Franklin has a track record of developing elite running backs, and the program is coming off a College Football Playoff run, falling just short of a national championship.
Now, Franklin is aiming to keep the momentum going – and Cowley could be a key piece of that puzzle.
During his time at Penn State (2015-2017), Barkley cemented himself as one of the most dominant backs in college football history.
He earned back-to-back Big Ten MVP honors, was a two-time All-American, and won the Paul Hornung Award as the nation’s most versatile player.
His performance propelled him to the No. 2 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft by the New York Giants.
After spending six seasons in New York, Barkley returned to Pennsylvania, signing with the Eagles last spring and delivering a historic 2,005-yard rushing season.
Though he was largely contained in Sunday’s Super Bowl, Kansas City’s defense had to stack the box to slow him down – opening up the passing game for Jalen Hurts and ultimately helping Philadelphia win the title.
With Penn State projected to be a top-three team in 2025 according to most early rankings, the program has its sights set on a national championship run.
Landing a recruit like Cowley would be a huge boost for the future, ensuring the Nittany Lions remain CFP contenders for years to come.
In the bigger picture, there are rumblings that Barkley and other notable Penn State alums will be getting more and more involved with helping the program.
Assuming they get the backing they need, do you think Penn State will ultimately pass Ohio State as the premier program in the Big Ten?
Or is that even possible with James Franklin’s in charge???
