Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1472993
A U G U S T 2 0 2 2 3 9 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M 2021 vs. 2022: Stock Up Or Down? Last year's performance didn't leave much room for regression, so even if the backfield hadn't benefitted from a major talent infusion via the class of 2022, you'd have to say that Penn State's stock here is up. Position coach Ja'Juan Seider and offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich spent the offseason diagnosing all that went wrong in 2021, when Penn State finished 13th in the Big Ten in rushing yards per game. The coaches' efforts, coupled with the talent pool that PSU has assembled, provide all the ingredients for a better season in 2022. Of course, improvement isn't contingent solely on the performance of the running backs. They'll need better blocking from the offensive line- men, tight ends and receivers, while super senior quarterback Sean Clif- ford must do a better job with his decision-making. The same goes for the coaching staff. Yurcich had a tendency to abandon the run in his first season as play-caller. Taking all that into consideration, we're predicting that Penn State's stock will rise. That said, we aren't blaming those unwilling to buy in before see- ing it in action. X-Factor Can the other parts of the Penn State offense help rejuvenate the rush- ing attack? We can extol the talent in the running backs room and else- where on offense, but if those players don't work together on game day, it doesn't much matter whether there's a potential first-round NFL Draft pick in the backfield. Coaches and players have all said the right things when it comes to the work they've put in since the end of last season. Offensive line coach Phil Trautwein told reporters in June he knows what it takes to make things happen up front. Seider and others have echoed Trautwein's confidence, and the players themselves have clearly taken the lessons of last season to heart, both the guys running the ball and those who are tasked with open- ing holes for them. It can all seem great on a chalkboard or in an interview. But if the Lions once again find their offensive line getting pushed backward on fourth- and-goal, or if a missed RPO read means that an easy-access throw is neglected in favor of a handoff into the teeth of charging defenders, things won't be better regardless of how they look and sound. Freshman Outlook Nick Singleton comes to Penn State as the reigning Gatorade National Player of the Year. He was an On3 five-star recruit who toyed with oppo- nents at the Pennsylvania Class 5A level. It will be a surprise if he doesn't see considerable action this fall. Then there's Kaytron Allen. He's been an overlooked member of this year's signing class, and he shouldn't be. An On3 four-star prospect, he faced elite competition at IMG Academy in Florida. Expect both newcom- ers to push for carries, starting with the opener at Purdue. — Greg Pickel Scholarship Players (5) NO. PLAYER CL. HT. WT. 28 Devyn Ford Jr. 5-11 190 26 Caziah Holmes R-So. 5-11 216 24 Keyvone Lee So. 6-0 234 13 Kaytron Allen Fr. 5-11 216 10 Nick Singleton Fr. 6-0 219 Quick Facts Position coach: Ja'Juan Seider (fifth season) Returning starters: Keyvone Lee (7 career starts), Devyn Ford (6) Departing starter: Noah Cain (8) Projected new starters: None Top reserves: Caziah Holmes Newcomers: Kaytron Allen, Nick Singleton Moved in: None Moved out: None Entering his fifth season at Penn State, running backs coach Ja'Juan Seider is looking to engineer a bounce-back campaign for a Nittany Lion offense that ranked 13th in the Big Ten in rushing yards per game last fall. PHOTO BY STEVE MANUEL RUNNING BACKS