Penn State gets another glimpse into the future with impressive freshman running back

If Penn State wasn't already Linebacker U, it may be Running Back U. Some of the best running backs in college football have worn the blue and white, and even more specifically have played for James Franklin. Across his 11 years in Happy Valley, Franklin has coached Saquon Barkley, Miles Sanders, and for the past three years, Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton. Over the past two weeks, Franklin and his staff have gotten a glimpse into the future of the position and maybe the next Nittany Lion superstar. 

Allen and Singleton will both be eligible for the 2025 NFL Draft and could leave Happy Valley to start their professional careers. Even if both don’t go, it’s unlikely that both players return, so there will be plenty of vacated snaps and carries in the backfield that will need to be filled. True freshman three-star Corey Smith has submitted his application for the position across Penn State’s blowout wins over Washington and Purdue in Weeks 11 and 12. 

Smith has risen to RB3 because of an injury to redshirt freshman Cam Wallace early in the year and eligibility fears for true freshman four-star Quinton Martin Jr. who has already appeared in two games so far this season. Players are allowed to appear in up to four games while still preserving their redshirt, and Smith has benefited from that quirky rule. 

The 5-foot-10 189-pound running back from Milwaukee, Wisconsin took the second carry of his career last week for 78 yards. That was the longest run of the season by any Penn State player, and he added another 17 yards on four other attempts in the 35-6 White Out win. Then, in the 49-10 win in Week 12, Smith went for 37 yards on eight attempts and looked very impressive with the second-team offense. 

For the rest of the year, Smith could provide the dynamic speed that Penn State has been missing with Nicholas Singleton banged up for much of the season, but long-term, his future is even brighter. Smith could be the next Penn State great in the backfield, and he wasn’t the only young star who got to showcase his talents in West Lafayette. 

Five-star freshman tight end Luke Reynolds caught his first career touchdown and finished with three catches for 53 yards and a score. While Smith has big shoes to fill in the backfield, Reynolds has an even tougher task, eventually replacing Tyler Warren.