Pat McAfee claims the Lawn Boyz are “allegedly” returning to Penn State for 2025

Penn State has already gotten word from quarterback Drew Allar that he intends to return to Happy Valley for his senior season in 2025, but what about the other two offensive superstars from James Franklin’s loaded 2022 recruiting class? 

Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen have been an elite running back duo since their freshman seasons and just led the Nittany Lions to a convincing 31-14 win over Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl College Football Playoff quarterfinal. Both are draft eligible and would be highly sought after in a loaded running back draft class, however, two days later, as Penn State still awaits its foe in the Orange Bowl CFP semifinal, ESPN’s Pat McAfee claimed that the “Lawn Boyz” as the duo has been affectionately nicknamed, are coming back too. 

Before you rush to celebrate, there has been no announcement from either player about their future intentions and no reporting on the subject either. It’s also important to consider the source in this case. McAfee, who ESPN has elevated to become the face of the network and its college football coverage, claimed earlier this season that Penn State “allegedly” could not host a home College Football Playoff game at Beaver Stadium because of a lack of hotels in the State College area. 

Penn State did, of course, host SMU in the first round of the CFP, dispatching the 11th-seeded Mustangs 38-10 to set up Tuesday night’s Fiesta Bowl matchup with the Broncos. 

There is reason to believe that at least one of the two backs would return for 2025, and that would likely be Allen, who was the lower-rated high school recruit and so far has garnered less NFL draft hype. However, it remains highly unlikely that both of the Lawn Boyz are back in blue and white for their senior seasons. If they are, along with Allar, the Nittany Lions would have a case as the Big Ten favorites.