Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/890458
T H E 2 0 1 7 S E A S O N P enn State has a trio of running backs who would likely start at a majority of college football programs across the country. None of them are named Saquon Barkley. Behind the Heisman Trophy contender on the Nittany Lions' depth chart are junior Mark Allen and sophomores Andre Robinson and Miles Sanders. Those three players "are in a challenging, tough sta- tion because they're good enough to start for us and win for us," coach James Franklin said, "but we have one of the better football players on the planet" ahead of them. It's not always easy to oblige, standing on the sideline watching one of the sport's most celebrated athletes operat- ing in one of its most intriguing offenses. But every day, they come back to work to not only advance their own skill set but to also adjust their mindset in order to em- brace the idea of being the guys who are behind Barkley. Running backs coach Charles Huff said he's seen firsthand their maturation, as reflected in the way they've settled into their unique roles over the course of their careers. "I think they all understand now, which I'm not totally sure they all fully understood a year or two ago, that obvi- ously they're playing behind a really good football player," Huff said. "It's not that they're not good foot- ball players. They've got to be able to maximize their opportunities while also learning and preparing mentally for the moment when they become the starter or the guy in the game. I think they're doing a better job of that this season." With three backups who the coaches consider to have first-string potential, there are only so many opportunities to touch the ball in an offense that's cen- tered around Barkley. He's on the field for well over half of the snaps, whether he gets the ball or is serving as a decoy. Playing time is minimal in that scenario, and that makes each carry or reception all the more precious when one of the backups is in the game. Franklin and Huff both have said that Allen, Robinson and Sanders need to maximize each shot so that they are able to affect the game in a posi- tive way. That hasn't necessarily been the case so far. Huff pointed to Robin- son's near-TD reception against Akron as one missed opportunity. Robinson also was part of a dropped snap against Georgia State. And Sanders had what could have been a costly fumble against Pitt, a ball that Huff said Penn State was lucky to recover. But there have also been positives. Aside from the miscue against Pitt, Sanders has been effective, averaging 10.5 yards on six carries through six games, including a 29-yard touchdown scamper against Georgia State. Robinson scored a 41-yard touchdown in that same game and was averaging 6.1 yards per carry heading into the Michigan game. Allen made his return against Georgia State after missing the first two games and added 9 yards on two carries and appears to be ready to push his teammates and put an even higher premium on playing time among the running backs. "I don't think the time that Mark had missed has set him back at all," Huff said. "He's in the same group as he was." Backup RBs look to make most of opportunities | STRENGTH IN NUMBERS Running backs Barkley (left), Robinson (center) and Allen take a break during practice in Septem- ber. Barkley's back- ups have seen limited action so far this season. Photo by Nate Bauer