Penn State RB Noah Cain on a mission in 2020 after disappointing Bowl game

Penn State Nittany Lions running back Noah Cain opens up about what motivated him to take the next step this offseason.

Penn State running back Noah Cain saw his backfield mate Journey Brown run wild during the Nittany Lions’ Cotton Bowl victory on his way to collecting the game’s MVP trophy, and it set the tone for his own grueling offseason training.

“To be honest with you, I was kind of disappointed with my bowl game performance when we went back and watched the film,” Cain told reporters during Penn State’s media day this week. “There were a few runs where I was like, ‘Man, I could’ve made a bigger play on that.’”

While Brown rushed for a game-high 202 yards and two touchdowns while averaging an eye-popping 12.6 yards per carry in Penn State’s New Years Six victory over Memphis in a performance that made him a college football household name, Cain knew he was capable of more. Still, Cain rushed for 92 yards and two touchdowns of his own.

As a true freshman, Cain was Penn State’s second-leading rusher, trailing only Brown, with 84 carries for 443 yards and eight touchdowns in just nine regular season games.

Yet, Cain wasn’t satisfied with how his freshman season ended. He believes that 2020 will be the season he lives up to his status as a four-star prospect coming out of the IMG Academy in 2019.

“I feel like my IQ has come a long way from last year to this year,” Cain said. “My body has changed a lot. I’ve changed the way I’ve eaten. I’m from Louisiana, so all I know is big seafood, heavy foods, all that. But I’ve changed [my diet] just so I can be fresh on the field and help sustain myself through the whole season.

“I feel leaner, quicker, faster. I’m just excited to show that against Indiana on October 24.”

Penn State will likely build the offense this season around the running game, with Brown, Cain, and the rest of the “#LawnBoys” being vital to the Nittany Lions’ success.

“We have three really, really talented backs, besides our freshmen, that are proven in Big Ten play,” Penn State offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca told reporters. “That makes me sleep a little bit better at night, to be honest with you.”