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Penn State Football: Grading the Nittany Lions vs. Iowa

By Dylan Burd

IOWA CITY, IOWA- OCTOBER 12: Quarterback Sean Clifford #14 of the Penn State Nittany Lions scrambles on a keeper in the second half in front of linebacker Nick Niemann #49 and defensive end A.J. Epenesa #94 of the Iowa Hawkeyes, on October 12, 2019 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images)
IOWA CITY, IOWA- OCTOBER 12: Quarterback Sean Clifford #14 of the Penn State Nittany Lions scrambles on a keeper in the second half in front of linebacker Nick Niemann #49 and defensive end A.J. Epenesa #94 of the Iowa Hawkeyes, on October 12, 2019 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) /
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IOWA CITY, IOWA- OCTOBER 12: Running back Noah Cain #21 of the Penn State Nittany Lions celebrates a touchdown with tight ends Nick Bowers and Pat Freiermuth #87 in the second half against the Iowa Hawkeyes, on October 12, 2019 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images)
IOWA CITY, IOWA- OCTOBER 12: Running back Noah Cain #21 of the Penn State Nittany Lions celebrates a touchdown with tight ends Nick Bowers and Pat Freiermuth #87 in the second half against the Iowa Hawkeyes, on October 12, 2019 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) /

RUNNING BACKS . A. . .

After watching the game on Saturday night, I don’t only think that Noah Cain is the best running back on the team, but I also believe he could be among the best running backs in the country eventually.

Cain, who should be a shoo-in to be the starting running back in next week’s game, had 22 carries for 102 yards and a touchdown. Of that workload, he racked up 15 carries for 67 yards and a touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Cain also picked up a first down on a third and three with 2:11 left in the fourth quarter to clinch the game for the Nittany Lions. The true freshman running back now has 57 carries for 310 yards and six touchdowns through six games this season.

All three of the other running backs got four carries each. Devyn Ford had 17 yards, Journey Brown had 16 yards, and Ricky Slade had eight yards. None of the four running backs caught a pass in this game.

After this game, it’s clear that Noah Cain should be the bell cow running back for Penn State. His downhill running ability combined with his elusiveness gives Cain the tools to be an elite back, sooner rather than later.

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