Does Penn State Football need to find another Running Back?

2023 Solution (Part 1)

If Penn State heads into the 2023 season with just Singleton, Allen and Montgomery as the scholarship running backs, the transfer portal may become an option.

James Franklin has upped his usage of the portal recently and it’s paid off in a big way. The Nittany Lions will certainly target a running back in the portal if they feel like it’s a big enough need. Only having three scholarship backs would qualify as a big need.

Penn State may not have trouble finding targets in the portal, the issue will be getting them to come to Happy Valley. The No. 1 reason a player enters the transfer portal is because they are currently not seeing enough playing time at their current school.

It will be difficult for Franklin to sell playing time to a running back with two very talented backs already in the room. The Nittany Lions may have to go after a running back who is taking the leap up in competition from a Group of Five school and would just like to be a part of a bigger program and receive more exposure.

Landing someone with a couple years of experience would be the way to go. Penn State doesn’t really need young player with a ton of potential as much as they do a veteran who can hold their own when called upon.