By: Pasquale Tartaro, GoPSUSports.com
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Though he is working through the early stages of spring practice, head coach James Franklin has a glimpse of where his team stands heading into next season.
Here are three takeaways from Franklin’s midweek press conference.
Early Enrollee Running Backs
While the Nittany Lions retain a fair share of experience in the backfield, the additions of freshmen running backs Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen will only serve to raise the level of competition.
“They’re impressive. Those two guys are going to make it ultra competitive in that room,” offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Mike Yurcich said. “And what’s impressive to me is that they came out of high school and physically, they’re at a stage where they can do all things.”
Singleton, who was named the 2021 Gatorade National Player of the Year and the Maxwell Football Club National Offensive Player of the Year, rushed for 2,059 yards and 44 touchdowns in his senior season at Governor Mifflin.
“He’s got tremendous burst. [He’s] powerful, strong in pass protection,” Franklin said. “We’ve been impressed so far.”
Moreover, Franklin believes that Allen’s experience at IMG Academy has “put him ahead” throughout the transition to the collegiate level.
“Kaytron’s very football smart,” Franklin said. “In terms of college level learning, experience, and understanding defensive protections and things like that.”
The running back room also features returners Keyvone Lee, Caziah Holmes and Devyn Ford, who bring valuable veteran presences to this exciting group of newcomers this spring.
“You don’t have to worry about what down it is with those guys,” Yurcich said of Allen and Singleton. “They can play on all downs because of their physical strength and their maturity.”
“They’re not like normal true freshmen,” offensive lineman Juice Scruggs said. “When they put those pads on, they show it.”
Offensive Line Vying for Improvement
While the number of offensive linemen currently available for practices may be low, it hasn’t stopped a number of players from standing out in the trenches.
Franklin pointed to sophomore Olu Fashanu at left tackle, Scruggs at center and redshirt junior Caedan Wallace at right tackle…
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