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Penn State Football’s youth movement must continue on offense

By Lawrence Santa Maria

Nov 14, 2020; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Will Levis (7) runs against the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the second half at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 14, 2020; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Will Levis (7) runs against the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the second half at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports /
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STATE COLLEGE, PA – NOVEMBER 7: Caziah Holmes #26 of the Penn State Nittany Lions carries the ball against the Maryland Terrapins during the second half at Beaver Stadium on November 7, 2020 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
STATE COLLEGE, PA – NOVEMBER 7: Caziah Holmes #26 of the Penn State Nittany Lions carries the ball against the Maryland Terrapins during the second half at Beaver Stadium on November 7, 2020 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

Get the young backs more work

After losing their top two running backs in Journey Brown and Noah Cain, sophomore Devyn Ford has been the lead running back for Penn State.

Ford has been fine, rushing for 207 yards on 53 attempts with two touchdowns so far this season. Ford has elite speed, but struggles to break tackles and push the pile when they need a few yards and does not look like a future every down back for this offense.

There seemed to be more of an effort to get freshmen Keyvone Lee and Caziah Holmes touches on Saturday, and that trend needs to continue.

At six-foot and 230 pounds, Lee is a big bruising back, with a similar north and south running style to Noah Cain. Lee ran for 49 yards on eight carries Saturday, including a 31-yard touchdown run. Holmes is a smaller, shiftier back, listed at five-foot-eleven and 209 pounds. Holmes has showed great burst at times this season, and showed it again against Nebraska when he broke loose for a 36-yard run in the second half.

With Levis under center for Penn State, the offense is going to be much more run heavy, creating more opportunities for the young backs. Getting them touches the rest of the way will go a long way in making sense of the running backs room in 2021.

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