In an unexpected turn of events, Penn State has both Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen getting ready for the 2025 season and James Franklin talked about their progress in Tuesday’s media availability.
Both running backs are proven commodities.
Singleton is 10th on Penn State’s all-time rushing list and Allen is 11th.
Either one of them— maybe even both— has a realistic chance to catch Evan Royster’s school record. Singleton is 1,020 yards away from Royster and Allen is 1,155 yards away. Last seasons, the two became the first pair in Penn State history to each break 1,000 yards in the same season.
Now, it also helped that Penn State played in a school-record 16 games, making the College Football Playoff semifinal.
But due in part to both star backs returning, many feel Penn State can get that far again this season, perhaps even further.
It will be a while before we see “Nick and the Fatman (Allen’s nickname) take on an opposing defense.
But spring ball exists for a reason, and here’s what Franklin said about how the two star backs are looking.
JAMES ON ‘THE FATMAN’
Photo by Matt Lynch, Nittany Sports Now
For Franklin, Allen is vastly better than he was last season.
He also pointed out that, because of injuries, Allen hadn’t had an offseason in the past.
“Fat has really improved,” Franklin said. “As you guys know, we’ve talked about, he’s never really had an offseason since he’s been here. He looks faster. He looks more explosive.”
Franklin also credited first-year RB coach Stan Drayton with this improvement.
“I think Stan has done a phenomenal job,” he said. “You guys have had a chance to be close and up and personal with Stan and his drills. I think Stan’s drills have been really intentional and those guys I think are doing really well right now. So for him, I think that explosiveness and that speed that he’s playing with right now is going to be big for him.
HOW CAN SINGLETON BE EVEN BETTER?
Photo by Matt Lynch, Nittany Sports Now: Penn State RB Nick Singleton
Singleton is already one of the best running backs in Penn State history but for Franklin, there’s still plenty of room to improve.
A key to that is, well, finding more room to run.
“It’s a lot of the open field running, a little bit more of the creativity in his game,” Franklin said. “He’s been a guy that, obviously, is extremely strong, extremely explosive, extremely fast. But we want to work on those open-field runs so he can get more 80-yard, 90-yard runs which we think he’s capable of getting.”
Singleton famously had an 87-yard touchdown run in the Rose Bowl against Utah at the end of his true freshman season.
Penn State Bowl Countdown
#32023 Rose Bowl
Nick Singleton shows his acceleration and speed as he breaks an 87-yard touchdown run to give Penn State the lead! #WeAre pic.twitter.com/canhOeJUYe
— Basic Blues Nation (@BasicBlues) December 27, 2023
Since then, his career long is 58, which he broke off in the Fiesta Bowl against Boise State this New Year’s Eve.
Nic Singleton ices the CFP quarterfinal with a 58-yard TD run, putting Penn State in position to win the Fiesta Bowl 🧊
🎥 @espnpic.twitter.com/NcKwwYsGTM
— The Athletic CFB (@TheAthleticCFB) January 1, 2025
“So a lot of that stuff,” Franklin said. “Open-field running, cutting back, setting runs up, setting defenders up, really, both of those guys just working really hard at trying to be more explosive in the running game and then also, continue to expand their role in the passing game.”
