Is Penn State Running Back U? There are a few other schools that can probably stake a better claim to that moniker. But the list before you get to Penn State isn’t long.
The Nittany Lions have been producing elite running backs for years, and Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton, the Lawn Boyz, just passed all of them in the record books. Four-year contributors, Allen passed Evan Royster as the program’s all-time leading rusher this season, and Singleton surpassed Saquon Barkley for the touchdown crown.
Now, both backs are heading to the NFL, and while James Franklin had done a nice job stockpiling young talent behind them, Matt Campbell is casting a wide net to find his next running back duo, or at least the second half of it.
Penn State targeting James Peoples, Makhi Frazier, and LJ Phillips at running back
Campbell has brought in Carson Hansen from Iowa State, after the 6-foot-2, 220-pound junior ran for 952 yards and six touchdowns last season, but, as he did in Ames, Campbell is going to have Hansen split carries with a two-headed backfield.
At Iowa State, that was Abu Sama III, who has one year of eligibility remaining, but isn’t expected to use it in Happy Valley. At Penn State, it appears that it will be one of James Peoples, Makhi Frazier, or LJ Phillips Jr., and not rising redshirt sophomore Quinton Martin Jr., who went for 100 yards on the ground in the Pinstripe Bowl.
Theres 3 RBs Penn State has interest in
— White Out Football (@NittanyNatRec) January 5, 2026
James Peoples - OSU 344 yds 2 TDs
Makhi Frazier - MSU 520 yds 2 TDs
LJ Phillips - South Dakota State 1920 yards 19 tds 28 Rec 1 TD
All 3 have 2 years eligibility and I am high on all of them. All offer something different.
🦁🦁🦁 pic.twitter.com/4LinOVhB1u
Peoples was expected to be a bigger part of the backfield in Columbus this year, but were edged out of a significant role by true freshman Bo Jackson, who emerged as Ryan Day’s bellcow. Still, he’s a former four-star with multiple years of eligibility remaining, and one who showed flashes of explosiveness as a sophomore.
Makhi Frazier was a bit more prolific in his sophomore season at Michigan State, finishing as the team’s leading rusher with 520 yards through just nine games. Frazier averaged 4.5 per carry and reached paydirt twice. At 5-foot-10, 218 pounds, Frazier has a low center of gravity that allows him to change direction quickly and makes him difficult to bring down.
Frazier is the highest-ranked of Penn State’s targets, checking in at RB25 for Saturday Blitz, one spot ahead of Hansen. Peoples and Phillips did not crack the rankings.
Saturday Blitz Transfer Portal RB rankings
Though Phillips saw the greatest workload of this triumvirate, the South Dakota transfer is the biggest unknown. He ran for a staggering 1,920 yards and 19 touchdowns as a redshirt sophomore this season, but it’s an open question how well the 5-foot-9, 225-pounder will translate from FCS to the Power 4.