Penn State running backs room called third-best in all of college football by Pro Football Focus
Penn State could have one of the nation’s best running back rooms in the Big Ten by the end of the 2023 season. However, one set of preseason position rankings believe the Lions have work to do to get there.
Pro Football Focus is releasing position-by-position rankings ahead of kickoff. The Nittany Lions check in at No. 3 nationally in the outlet’s running back rankings. Reigning Big Ten freshman of the year Nicholas Singleton and classmate Kaytron Allen lead the way for tenured position coach Ja’Juan Seider. Minnesota transfer and college football veteran Trey Potts, a Pa., native, joins that duo this year. Freshmen arrivals Cameron Wallace and London Montgomery round out the room.
“Penn State has the best chance to lead this list next year with two stud sophomores leading the way,” PFF’s Max Chadwick writes. “As a true freshman, Nicholas Singleton’s 4.6 yards after contact per attempt in 2022 were the second-most in the Power Five. He’s my No. 7 running back in the country heading into this season. Kaytron Allen forced a missed tackle on 28% of his attempts this past season, the fourth-best rate in the Big Ten.
“Minnesota transfer Trey Potts will be the No. 3 back and rushed for a combined 1,029 yards over the past two seasons.”
Who is ahead of Penn State in PFF’s running back rankings?
A pair of Big Ten foes rank ahead of Penn State in July. Michigan is No. 1. Ohio State is No. 2.
On putting the Wolverines atop his list, Chadwick writes:
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“Blake Corum’s 96.2 grade in 2022 didn’t just lead all FBS players. It was the highest by a Power Five player since PFF began charting college football in 2014. The Wolverines also have college football’s best No. 2 back in Donovan Edwards, who’s a top-10 running back in the nation. He led all Power Five backs with 7.1 yards per carry. The sophomore’s 87.0 grade was tied for fifth in that same group. When Corum went down with a knee injury late in the season, Edwards stepped up when it mattered most. Against Ohio State, Purdue in the Big Ten Championship Game and TCU in the College Football Playoff semifinal, he ran for a combined 520 yards and averaged 7.4 yards per carry.”
The Buckeyes are in the No. 2 slot, then, thanks to a mixture of returnees TreVeyon Henderson, Miyan Williams, and Dallan Hayden.
Read the full PFF story here.
Penn State opens the 2023 season against West Virginia. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET on Sept. 2. NBC will televise the contest.
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