Penn State Football: Year 2 for Running Back – Kaytron Allen

When it comes to the headliners for Penn State football’s running back room, it’s Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen as RB -1A and RB- 1B. Both players enter their sophomore season at Penn State and they both have very high expectations after their successful freshmen campaigns.

Many Penn State fans were well aware of Nick Singleton the second he arrived on campus, but I’m not sure if anyone could’ve predicted the success his teammate Kaytron Allen had during the 2022 season.

They truly complement each other very well. One game, might be the Singleton show, and the other game Allen can take over. Penn State has the ultimate dynamic duo in their backfield but today I want to focus on Kaytron “Fatman” Allen.

The thing I admire most about Allen is his selflessness. Some members of the Penn State football community wondered if Kaytron would enter the transfer portal after last season so he can truly be the #1 running back on a team. However, he did not and I don’t think that was ever a consideration.

The running back position has so much contact, that many players end their college careers with 800-plus rushing attempts. For those that aspire to play in the NFL, scouts will evaluate players based off of the wear and tear on their body during their college career’s. Allen and Singleton having their own success on the field while being able to preserve their bodies is a huge benefit for both players.

Allen entered last season listed at 201 lbs. Now, as a sophomore he is up to 218 lbs according to Penn State football’s official roster. This is significant because Allen was already known for his bruising running style. I would look for him to appear in even more short-yardage and goal-line situations in 2023.

He runs with such patience once he gets the ball, allowing his blocks to be set up before making a decision on which way to go. But, it’s the way he finishes those runs that make you appreciate this young man even more.

An underrated element of Allen’s game is his pass-catching ability. Last season, he secured 20 catches for 188 yards and 1 touchdown. He is very efficient in catching screen passes as he allows his blockers to get out in front of him. Who can forget this monster run-after-catch against Indiana last season?

Allen is a super enjoyable player to watch and I think he is primed to have another very successful season in 2023. He finished the 2022 campaign with 867 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns. I truly believe he can shatter those numbers this season behind this offensive line.

Kaytron Allen has quietly become a fan favorite within the Penn State community, we are super fortunate to watch #13 go to work on Saturday’s.