Penn State added two career 3,000 yard rushers in Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen to its long storied history.
In some ways, Allen is more surprising.
I’m not saying Allen was not talented enough, he possesses the talent that should have him drafted in Pittsburgh next spring.
But what’s surprising is how the chemistry between Singleton and Allen has allowed both to flourish, especially in the era of NIL.
After Allen’s career-high 144 yards against Florida International, I asked him about how it felt passing Lydell Mitchell, a running back that held the NCAA single season touchdown record before Barry Sanders broke it – those who know Allen will say no one loves touchdowns more than him, and Larry Johnson, Penn State’s only single season 2,000 yard rusher.
“It’s great for real,” he said. “I got an opportunity to do that. I appreciate (James) Franklin for allowing me to come here, a kid from Norfolk, just trying to live out his dreams and trying to live up to the standard where they set and just knowing that it was great that’s here, trying to hold the standard for us in the running back room. It’s RBU.”
Allen’s motivated to add his name to the many great running back luminaries to dawn the Blue & White.
One of the things evaluators have a knock on Allen is on speed.
During a highlight 67-yard touchdown this past Saturday, Allen looked like he added another gear.
When asked if he could have gone 67-yards last season, Allen enjoyed the back and forth, “Of course…I’ve been working on (speed since) December, and it’s showing them.”
Penn State’s Strength Coach Chuck Losey has been working with Allen to maximize his potential.
“Allen has had as good a winter as he’s ever had since he’s been on campus. Probably his best training cycle,” Losey commented in March after the winter workout period.
Allen possesses elite power and strength for a running back, but Losey recognizes for Allen to maximize his potential as a NFL prospect, the demonstration of speed has to be there.
“Coach Los with speed training,” Allen said. “I did a little bit like home and on break, I went home training with my trainer. He was split, just diving into everything, just trying to take one day at a time, trying to get better.”
Allen identified to improve his speed there was plenty of band resistance, shuttle running, and 40s.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.When I asked how close he was to those NFL bench marks, Kaytron Allen kept his perspective in the here and now, not dwelling too much into the future.
“I really think about that right now,” he said. “I’m just thinking about right now what’s in front of me right now. At any year, I get to think about that, but I’m just thinking about what’s in front of me right now.”
Many of the backs feel there is a distinct difference between former coach Ja’Juan Seider and Stan Drayton.
Drayton brings in an element of having been a head coach and his development of Ezekiel Elliott (Ohio State) and Bijan Robinson (Texas) demonstrates his ability to make even the best better.
Kaytron Allen has respect for both Seider and Drayton.
“They got two different coaching styles, both great coaches,” he said. “Though I’m glad I had coach Seider as a coach, and I got three years. Yeah, (Drayton) makes you know, we are on point, telling us what we need here.”
What Penn State needs from both Singleton and Allen from here on out is both of them dominate games that will set up Drew Allar in the passing game and attempt to repeat the long College Football Playoff run they had a season ago.
If you wonder about Allen’s interest who finishes on top of the Penn State rushing list, he has an amicable hope how it ends up with Singleton.
“For sure, competitive,” he said. “We kind of make sure we help each other grow and just keep getting better with each other. That’s my dog, man. I hope at the end of the year we can be tied.”
