As Singleton continues learning process, Allen emerges as top running back

ALTOONA, Pa. -- Nicholas Singleton came in with all the hype as the national high school player of the year, and then got off to a blazing start in college with some long touchdown runs early.

But as of right now, Penn State's best running back seems to be Kaytron Allen, the other extremely talented freshman whose nickname is "Fatman."

"I think that both these guys want to be great," running backs coach Ja'Juan Seider said Thursday.

It's a good competition, and it's close. But through eight games, Allen has shown a better ability at this stage in his career to make tough runs up the middle and pick up extra yardage -- the kind of runs it takes to succeed in the Big Ten.

Singleton smoked Ohio for two long TD runs (70 and 44 yards) to the outside in week two, then had a 54-yard burst at Auburn a week later. He got off to the best three-game start to his career of any running back in Penn State history with 334 yards, and he was leading the nation in yards per carry.

But once defenses started bottling up Singleton and forcing him to the middle, it's been a different story. In his last five games, he has just 272 yards rushing and has averaged 4.12 yards per carry.

Allen did not get off to a sizzling start with just 106 yards rushing through three games. But over his past five contests, he's gone for 366 yards and averaged 5.5 per carry. He got his first-career start last week against Ohio State and had 76 yards on 12 carries, while Singleton had 45 yards on 14 carries.

The media got a chance to catch up with Seider on Thursday to evaluate and compare the two standout freshmen running backs.

"I basically look at those guys as co-starters," Seider said.

"I actually think Nick's starting to play really well the last few games," Seider noted. "I know stats don't seem that way, but he has."

As for Allen, the coach said, "I think he's playing really well. He's played more like a seasoned vet than a freshman. That's kind of what I've been saying since the kid got here. He would prepare, I think that's what IMG helped a lot with film room and stuff.

"I'm not surprised with the kid's success. I've been trying to hint at that to you guys since the summer. He's a special player."

Things seemed to come very easily for Singleton early on. And who knows, maybe it came too easily. In high school, he was just better and faster than everyone else, so he could take off for lots of big gains. Just like he did busting around the outside and outrunning everyone against Ohio.

I asked Seider if maybe Singleton got a little spoiled by those longs runs to the outside, perhaps thinking that everything would come so easily as opposed to what the coach called the "dirty runs" into the line of scrimmage.

"I think learning schemes can play a factor in why some of those run were designed to bounce, just the way how it was locked up," Seider said. "But understand there are some runs that need to stay in between the guard and the guard, right to left. Jam that in behind the center or one side of the guard. So again, teaching him the difference between inside zone, outside zone, gap schemes, different read operation that we have.

"I think he's really starting to comprehend that aspect of football," Seider added. "And again, it's all new to the kid. And I'm glad he had that success (early) because what it does is scare the hell out of the defense."

Allen came to Penn State heavier, around 225 pounds, but is now listed at 201. His nickname might be "Fatman," but in no way does he look like that. However, he runs with such power and purpose, and at times can look like a power back who is bigger than what he actually is.

"He's faster, is one area you can see in his game," Seider said.

"One thing that, even though he lost some of that weight. he hasn't lost his power. His contact numbers are still awesome. We saw it a couple of weeks ago versus Minnesota versus that safety. So, the edge is still there, the power between his legs and his hand. ... He just reshaped his body, he got a lot of bad weight off of him."

With four games remaining, sometimes freshmen can start to hit a wall at this time of year. Seider said that not only have the two young running backs not done that, he sees them getting better each week.

"I actually think they improved," he said. "It's really what you want to see. They have tremendous growth. We've talked about Nick since he got here, he's coming from a system where he was basically the best player on the field ran inside, got him in space. Now he's starting to really understand how the game is being played, how people are defending him, not just letting him get to his speed outside. Which is kind of what he learned the Central Michigan game, they were trying to box him in. Now he understands I can play between the tackles and be just as explosive, and take a 4-yard run and make it a 15-20 yard run."

And with Allen ...

"With Fatman, it's just, nothing phases this kid," Seider said. "The game is easy to him, the moment's never too big."

LEE RIGHTFULLY 'FRUSTRATED'

It's been a tough season for Keyvone Lee, who has battled injuries and getting bypassed by the two freshmen running backs. He was Penn State's leading rusher the past two years but has only 25 carries for 94 yards.

"He's done a good job not letting it affect him in the meeting room, but it's been frustrating for the kid," Seider said of Lee's injuries. "He busts his tail January to fall camp to be in the best shape he can be and down to 225 and literally ran a high 4.4. The kid was working hard. It's just part of this football game. It's a violent sport, you're gonna be nicked up, you're gonna have injuries you can recover from quick and some are gonna linger.

"The thing about all these kids is just to keep them positive. And I know it's tougher now because you got two freshmen having a lot of success. I don't take that for granted. We're in a world where if things aren't going right, it's easy for kids to get a negative impact on the mind and they start thinking different.

"His approach has still been good. He's around the building. He was close last week and playing, I probably could have put him in the game if I needed to. So, it's good to be able to get him close to back to being ready to play."

FORD'S DEPARTURE

Running back Devyn Ford left the Penn State program last month, after getting only seven carries for 37 yards early this season. Ford had dropped behind both freshmen and Lee on the depth chart, so his playing time was going to be limited.

"I wish Devyn well," Seider said. "I love the kid like my own son. We all were shocked when it happened. But it is what it is. I hope the kid has success. He'll have a Penn State degree. Four great years with the kid being an ultimate teammate. He was awesome for these young kids. His approach in the meeting room is as good as I've been around. So I wish the kid success."