Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1454229
2 6 M A R C H 2 0 2 2 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M K aytron Allen is used to competition — great competition. A Virginia native, Allen transferred to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., ahead of his sophomore year and found himself in the same backfield with another in- coming star, Lovasea Carroll. At the time, Carroll was a consensus top-15 running back prospect, and for un- derstandable reasons the coaches at IMG wanted to spread the carries around. So, Allen found himself serving as part of a tandem. After rushing for 1,465 yards as a freshman at Norview High in Norfolk, he gained 1,097 as part of IMG's running back rotation the following year and 515 yards during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. Carroll is now at Georgia, where he's been moved to defensive back and took a redshirt year during the Bulldogs' sprint to the 2021 national championship. And Allen? After rushing for more than 1,400 yards as a senior at IMG, he's an early enrollee at Penn State, where he's once again going up against some formidable competition in a bid to earn carries, perhaps as soon as this coming fall. Coach James Franklin brought in a pair of running backs during the 2022 cycle. In addition to Allen, the nation's No. 137 overall prospect in the On3 Consensus rankings, the Nittany Lions landed a five- star player in record-setting Pennsylvania standout Nick Singleton. Franklin said he signed Allen and Sin- gleton with the intention that they would be able to compete right away for playing time. Their presence on the roster this winter — both enrolled in January — will only enhance their chances of vying with returnees Keyvone Lee, Devyn Ford and Caziah Holmes for carries. "We'll see how it plays out," Franklin said. "We're super excited about getting them. We've got a lot of work to do, but it should be exciting." The 5-foot-11, 225-pound Allen has often been portrayed as a power run- ner, while Singleton has been viewed as a speedster. But that's not entirely ac- curate, Franklin said. When Allen signed in December, Franklin said he weighed closer to 215, which is also Singleton's listed weight. So, the two players may have more in common physically than some may think. Still, Allen's power is definitely not to be underestimated. As Franklin noted, "He's a physical guy. He's going to pun- ish you." With both he and Singleton practic- ing this spring, Franklin has some ad- ditional firepower to recharge a running game that slumped to 118th in FBS last season. Said the coach, "I don't know if there's a better running back class in the country." ■ Allen and his mother visited Penn State last summer, meet- ing with James Franklin and running backs coach Ja'Juan Seider (right), who took the lead in recruiting him. PHOTO COURTESY ALLEN FAMILY Kaytron Allen Set To Battle For Carries In Loaded Backfield M AT T H E R B | M A T T @ B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M KAYTRON ALLEN RB | 5-11 | 225 IMG ACADEMY (FLA.) NORFOLK, VA. RANKINGS STARS NAT. POS. STATE consensus ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 137 8 18 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 152 8 21 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 141 10 20 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 167 13 22 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 177 13 22 STATISTICS • Totaled more than 1,400 yards rushing and 27 touchdowns as a senior at IMG Academy. • Had 515 yards and nine rushing touchdowns on only 68 carries as a junior, and 1,097 yards and 16 TDs as a sophomore. • Rushed for 1,465 yards and 16 TDs during his freshman season at Norview (Va.) High. NOTABLE • Helped lead IMG to a 26-2 record during his three seasons at the school. • 2022 Under Armour All-America Game par- ticipant. • Won All-Eastern District and Max Preps Fresh- man All-America honors following his lone season in Virginia. • Lettered in both football and basketball at Nor- view. RECRUITMENT • Committed to Penn State on July 16, 2021. • Picked the Nittany Lions over Florida, Florida State, Georgia and Michigan State. • Recruited by running backs coach Ja'Juan Seider. • Officially visited Penn State on June 4, 2021. • Enrolled in January 2022. 2022 PROJECTION One of two running backs in Penn State's class, Allen will vie with five-star freshman Nick Singleton and returnees Keyvone Lee, Devyn Ford and Caziah Holmes for carries this coming fall. Allen and Singleton are already on campus and will participate in spring practice. Given the disap- pointing performance of Penn State's running game last fall — the Lions finished 118th in the FBS in rushing offense at 107.8 yards per game — both freshmen will likely be given every opportunity to show what they can do. THEY SAID IT Charles Power, On3 director of scouting and rankings: "He's a tough between-the-tackles run- ner. Seeing Allen in person helps contextualize what makes him successful. He has a thick build and plays with good power and leg drive." BWI analyst Thomas Frank Carr: "There's a bounce in Alen's game that can make him more than just a bruising power back. His running style is reminiscent of the Buffalo Bills' Zack Moss or former Seattle Seahawks great Marshawn Lynch. Like those backs, his best skill is simply running through tackles like a machine."