Penn State would be right to be sick of answering questions about Ashton Jeanty at this point.
The Boise State running back is 131 yards away from breaking the FBS single-season rushing yards record and was the Heisman Trophy runner-up. He has 2,497 yards on the ground so far this season.
So of course Jeanty should have the Nittany Lions’ attention. But in the days leading up to the Fiesta Bowl, he’s come up in seemingly every interview.
Those players love to point out they have a couple productive running backs of their own.
Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen both have a chance to eclipse 1,000 yards on the season when they take on Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl today. And both of them bring differing skill sets the Broncos have to account for.
“We will have to defend two of the best running backs we’ve seen all year,” Boise State head coach Spencer Danielson said. “I don’t even know if it’s close. These two backs are elite. Not only do they have the top-end speed, but they can break any arm tackle you come with.”
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Fiesta Bowl Time, Date & TV Channel
Penn State (12-2) will play Boise State (12-1) in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl on ESPN at 7:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Dec. 31.
The game, which is one of the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal matchups, will take place at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
And Singleton feels Penn State’s running game has found a rhythm in recent weeks. The Nittany Lions will need to establish the ground game if they want to keep Jeanty and the Broncos’ offense off the field.
“I feel like me and Kaytron are playing at a high level right now, especially these past couple of games,” Singleton said. “Both having touchdowns, both rushing for good yards. … We’re feeling good.”
Nicholas Singleton’s Career
Singleton, a 6-foot, 226-pound junior, was explosive from the beginning of his career when he set a Penn State freshman record with 12 rushing touchdowns in 2022. In fact, Singleton and Allen were the first true freshman teammates in the Big Ten to ever rush for 700 or more yards, as Singleton totaled 1,061 and Allen put up 867.
“We try to keep those guys fresh, and we try to keep those guys healthy, not only for their careers here at Penn State, but afterwards as well,” Penn State head coach James Franklin said. “They’re really close friends. They are really good complementary pieces. I know the expression is probably overused, but thunder and lightning is a good expression or a good description for those guys.”
Singleton, along with Saquon Barkley and DJ Dozier, was one of three PSU freshmen to ever rush for 1,000 yards.
He then earned All-Big Ten accolades as a running back and a return specialist in 2023. He ran for 752 yards and eight touchdowns on 171 carries while catching 26 passes for 308 yards and two touchdowns while returning 13 kicks for 313 yards.
This season, he’s run for 928 yards and eight touchdowns on 145 attempts.
For his career, he’s rushed for 2,741 yards with 28 touchdowns on the ground. Both of those marks are in the top 20 all-time at Penn State,
“Nick has the ability to go the distance with his speed, his explosive ability,” Franklin said.
Kaytron Allen’s Career
Allen, a 5-11, 220-pound junior, is also in the top 20 all-time with the Nittany Lions in terms of rushing yards (2,661) and touchdowns (24).
After rushing for 867 yards and 10 touchdowns as a true freshman, Allen was an All-Big Ten pick as a sophomore after rushing for 902 yards and six scores. He’s run for 892 yards and eight touchdowns on 184 carries this season.
He’s caught 51 passes for 416 yards and four touchdowns in his career.
“Kaytron, we call him Fat Man,” Franklin said. “Kaytron is extremely physical. They’re both smart, high football IQ guys. I think Nick is trying to get on an edge and beat you with speed. Fat Man will try to run you over more times than not. They have just been productive.”
Boise State defensive coordinator Erik Chinander noted, while they may bring different styles, they’re both going to be a challenge to defend.
“Later in the year, that’s one of the better running back tandems I have even seen in a long time,” Chinander said. “The thing that impresses me about both of them is how physical they run the football. They are hard to tackle. Physical in the run game, physical in the pass pro. I just like the way they play football. They’re a good one-two punch. I don’t think there’s one that’s better than the other. I think they’re just a lot to handle.”
