STATE COLLEGE − Even coach James Franklin admitted that he wasn’t banking having both of his Penn State football star running backs for the upcoming season.
Maybe his electric, breakaway senior-to-be, Nick Singleton.
Or his relentless, pounding senior-to-be, Kaytron Allen.
“I thought there was a good chance early on that we would get one of them back,” similar, he said, to how co-starting tight end Tyler Warren returned for his senior season in 2024 while Theo Johnson left early for the NFL.
But to get both of his 1,000-yard rushers back for another College Football Playoff run?
Penn State’s Kaytron Allen (13) blocks for fellow running back Nick Singleton (10) in the first half of an NCAA football game against Ohio State, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in State College, Pa.
It’s dynamic fortune for these Nittany Lions that comes during the middle of an intriguing and unexpected transition. Franklin must now hire a new assistant to coach them and the rest of his stocked running back room this spring, summer and fall.
With seven-year assistant Ja’Juan Seider reportedly leaving for Notre Dame, Penn State has a vacancy for “arguably the most attractive running back job in the country,” Franklin said during a Tuesday media session in the Pegula Ice Arena that included Nittany Lions freshmen.
A room led by Singleton and Allen, who both could break the school’s career rushing record this season.
“With Nick, (his return) was a little bit like (former offensive tackle Olu Fashanu), where getting his degree, finishing what he started, taking a few more steps. I think that was a factor for him,” Franklin said.
“One of the most exciting things about Kaytron is Kaytron has never really had an offseason. Every offseason, he’s had some injury that has really limited his development. So, you know, with him really having his first off-season…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/james-franklin-why-penn-state-003751949.html
Author : York Daily Record
Publish date : 2025-02-12 00:37:00
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
