With 4,180 yards across his four years in Happy Valley, Kaytron Allen became Penn State’s all-time leading rusher. However, after that historic college career, Allen was only a sixth-round draft pick this spring, taken off the board by the Washington Commanders at No. 187 overall.Â
Despite the lack of draft capital invested in him, or perhaps because of it, Washington gave Allen a huge workload in his preseason debut on Friday, and he made the most of it, turning 23 carries into 85 yards and a touchdown.Â
As is always the case with Allen, it wasn’t the prettiest, but it was effective, and it could lead to more playing time once the regular season comes around. He may not be a record-setter, but Allen can follow his Penn State path to a successful NFL career.Â
Kaytron Allen may be primed to overtake more talented RBs in Washington
Allen was never the most talented running back on the Penn State roster for his entire career. A three-star recruit from Bradenton, Florida, he arrived in Happy Valley with five-star Nicholas Singleton, and though his teammate was faster and more explosive, Allen ultimately outproduced him in the long run.Â
Allen was a three-star in Penn State’s loaded 2022 class, but right away he carved out a significant role, rushing for 867 yards as a true freshman. His toughness, physicality, and instincts as a runner always stuck out, and though it was just one game against NFL backups and future practice squad players, Allen did the same thing for Washington.Â
He averaged just 3.7 yards per carry on Friday, but did not have a single negative run. Allen has good vision to find the hole and always finishes forward, initiating contact with defenders to fight for extra yards. He’ll never have the burst to run away from NFL linebackers or safeties, but NFL coaches love a reliable running back who doesn’t make mistakes.Â
That’s what kept him getting carries at Penn State. He has a knack for finding positive yardage, and even with his large workload, he hardly fumbled, only putting the ball on the ground five times through his 768 carries, and never in the postseason. He’s never going to blow you away, but he’s productive, and that’s why James Franklin couldn’t keep him off the field, even for a home-run hitter like Singleton.Â
Bill Croskey-Merritt, a 2025 seventh-round pick, is the presumptive starter in Washington, with Rachaad White expected to handle third-down duties and pass-catching work. While Croskey-Merritt had a promising rookie season, that’s not the most inspiring backfield in the league, so Allen can carve out a role for himself with two more strong preseason performances.
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