Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1503568
4 0 A U G U S T 2 0 2 3 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M / / / / / / / 2 0 2 3 F O O T B A L L P R E V I E W / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / PRESEASON ANALYSIS ★★★★★ National Title; ★★★★ Top 10; ★★★ Top 25; ★★ Too Unproven; ★ Major Concern STARTER ★★★★★ The numbers are compelling. Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen had sterling debut seasons that, on their own, would grab national attention. Singleton put up 1,061 yards and 12 touchdowns on 156 carries. Allen plowed relentlessly forward for 867 yards and 10 scores on 167 carries. Com- bined, they eclipsed 2,000 all-purpose yards and became the fifth-most-productive rushing tan- dem at Penn State since 1960. Their storyline is equally compelling. Both players burst into the Penn State running backs room as true freshmen last season and, within 12 months, the rest of the position group — all with remaining eligibility — cleared out. Not only were Singleton and Allen quality players, but their tra- jectories were so obvious as to warrant transfers for running backs who were undeniably talented themselves. The awards can't be ignored, either. Singleton was named the Big Ten Thompson-Randle El Freshman of the Year and earned Freshman All- America status from the Football Writers Asso- ciation of America. Allen joined Singleton as the team's co-offensive MVP and was an honorable mention All-Big Ten pick. But when evaluating the quality of Penn State's backfield, seeing is believing. Running behind an offensive line that suffered some key injuries over the course of the 2022 season, the duo produced play after eye-popping play, a tantalizing blend of home-run hitting and bruising consistency. Singleton and Allen will be the focal point of ev- ery defensive coordinator Penn State will face this season, but the message is clear: Look out. EXPERIENCE ★★★★ Head coach James Franklin entered the spring acknowledging, and questioning, the type of leadership the team might be able to expect in 2023. After all, many of the mainstay voices throughout the Nittany Lion locker room were off to the NFL this offseason, leaving uncertainty in their wake. Penn State running backs coach Ja'Juan Seider countered with a heavy dose of reality. The days in which programs could afford to turn exclusively to older veterans for leadership were over, he noted. Sometimes leadership has to come from relative newcomers. In Singleton and Allen, Penn State has that exact equation this season. They may still have more days ahead of them at PSU than behind them, but after a full season in the program, they've gained enough experience to be comfortable exerting some authority. Behind the starters, the addition of redshirt senior Trey Potts via the transfer portal from Minnesota provides an insurance policy with Big Ten experience heading into the season. His very presence is an acknowledgment, however, that true freshmen Cam Wallace and London Mont- gomery are likely to be used sparingly this fall. DEPTH ★★★★ At this time a year ago, Penn State had five run- ning backs on its roster who had received a four- or five-star rating coming out of high school. But with the quick emergence of Singleton and Allen, the other three — Devyn Ford, Caziah Holmes and Keyvone Lee — have all departed. Potts' arrival has alleviated some of the con- cerns here. He saw action in 24 games in his four years at Minnesota, including five starts. If Single- ton and Allen were to get hurt, the Lions wouldn't have to turn to a true freshman to take over the position. OVERALL GRADE ★★★★ The reality for Penn State ahead of the 2023 season is simple: If the Nittany Lions are meant to take the next step as a program and reach the four- team College Football Playoff, Singleton and Allen will have to be of national championship quality. Although the duo has been at Penn State for just one season, the early returns have demon- strated that the Lions have a special circumstance in their backfield. They'll need help from sopho- more quarterback Drew Allar, the tight ends, the offensive line and receivers to unlock their full potential, but the running backs have an opportu- nity to shine this fall. Veteran assistant coach Ja'Juan Seider is getting set for his sixth season in charge of the Nittany Lions' running backs. PHOTO BY DANIEL ALTHOUSE