Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1464375
OPENING SHOT A TEAM EFFORT Ever since the early stages of the 2021 sea- son, when it first became apparent that his team was going to have trouble running the football, Penn State coach James Franklin has been insisting that the solution is to get better in a variety of areas, not just one. The Nittany Lions needed more than just a better, more co- hesive performance from their offensive line. They needed more than just assertive running from their ball carriers. They needed more than just a diligent approach to run-blocking from their tight ends. They needed all of it. This spring, they've been working to develop the kind of teamwork that will return them to the upper reaches of the Big Ten rushing statistics after falling to 13th last season (107.8 yards per game). They bring back sophomore running back Keyvone Lee (pictured), the team's leading rusher each of the past two seasons. Also returning to the backfield are junior Devyn Ford and redshirt sophomore Caziah Holmes. What's more, the Nittany Li- ons have a couple of January enrollees in Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen, whose debuts in the backfield are likely to be the most eagerly anticipated part of the Blue-White Game when it kicks off at 2 p.m. April 23. With the Nittany Lions looking to bounce back from a 7-6 finish last year, the need to diagnose and fix the problems in the team's rushing attack could not be more urgent. Se- nior center Juice Scruggs said in March that getting the ground game unstuck has been the offense's highest priority throughout the offseason drills. "We couldn't figure it out last season, but that's what we're here for," he said. "Working this spring, that's our main goal right now, just focusing on the run game. Just get better, keep attacking, and just work on the fundamentals. That's all you can do. "It's the whole offense together. People want to sit here and blame it on one person. But, altogether, it's 11 people. We're all together. Passing, run game, it doesn't matter. We're together." PHOTO BY STEVE MANUEL M A Y 2 0 2 2 9