Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1488968
3 2 J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 3 C oming off of back-to-back disappointments in 2020 and 2021, the Penn State football team needed a bounce-back season this past fall. By any standard, the Nittany Lions got it. An infusion of game-ready true freshman talent, coupled with the steady development of its veteran players, propelled Penn State to a 10-win regular season. While the Lions did lose two games, both defeats were at the hands of College Football Playoff participants. Determined to summit the mountain that Michigan and Ohio State represent in the Big Ten's East Division, Penn State still has work to do as a program. But at a critical moment in their quest to re-establish themselves as a competitive force on college football's national stage, the Nittany Lions made substantial progress toward those aims. Here are some of the best moments from the regular season: Offensive MVP A year ago, head coach James Franklin lamented that Penn State seldom got big plays from its running backs. Whether that was due to the struggles of the offensive line or a lack of game- breaking talent in the backfield, the result was a frustratingly one-sided offensive attack in offensive coordinator Mike Yur- cich's first season in the program. This fall, Nicholas Singleton upended that conversation completely. One of two true freshman running backs to make an instant impact with the Nittany Lions this season — Kaytron Allen is the other — Singleton has displayed home run potential that sets him apart. NAT E BAU E R | NAT E . B AU E R @ O N 3 . C O M Running back Nicholas Singleton had 22 carries of 10 or more yards in his first regular season at Penn State, earning Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors. PHOTO BY DANIEL ALTHOUSE Back On Track Supplementing its veterans with a contingent of impactful newcomers, Penn State enjoyed a return to form during the 2022 regular season