Why the Penn State all-time rushing record isn’t front of mind for the Nittany Lions

Penn State’s current running back situation was always unlikely.

Back when Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen committed as recruits, it was unlikely they would both end up sticking. Then it was unlikely they would both stay after sharing the workload as freshmen — and as sophomores, and even more so as juniors.

But here they are, heading into their fourth year as a tandem, sharing the workload and the praise.

And now both are just over 1,000 yards away from breaking the program rushing record.

Allen sits 1,056 yards shy of Evan Royster’s mark of 3,932 rushing yards, while Singleton is 1,021 yards away. In a season that should go longer than the scheduled 12 games with the team’s likely playoff run, it’s more than reasonable to expect both players will cross that barrier.

It’s something important enough that running backs coach Stan Drayton, who was hired earlier this year, was made aware of it not long after he joined the program.

“I think (assistant AD for football communications and content) Greg Kincaid kind of brought that to my attention, that both of those guys are in the hunt for that record,” Drayton said at local media day. “And it’s a special deal. You know, it’s great to be in position for something like that. I mean, there’s been a tradition of great running backs that have come in before those two, and for those two to both be in striking range of that record it’s pretty special.”

Those two aren’t the first elite running backs Drayton has coached. He has a long career of success coaching the position at stops like Florida, Ohio State and Texas. And he even has comparisons in mind for both — seeing similarities between Allen and former Ohio State running back Carlos Hyde, and Singleton and another former Buckeye in Ezekiel Elliot.

And while Drayton is in his first year coaching the duo, the two Nittany Lion running backs have been at this for a long time. Allen and Singleton have been at Penn State together for over three years. They get plenty of time together in the Lasch Football Building, in meeting rooms previously with former running backs coach Ja’Juan Seider and now with Drayton, and on the practice field getting ready for games.

But their relationship extends beyond that, as roommates. A pair of players who could easily have become rivals fighting for touches, yards and now records and instead become friends.

And while Singleton wants to earn the rushing record, he knows it’s not just about him.

“That’s something everybody talks about forever,” Singleton said Wednesday. “Obviously, Kaytron, he’s working to that goal, too. It’s good to compete, but at the same time we’re happy for each other. We always look out for each other. If one of us gets our goal, then it’ll be really good.”

And a record like this isn’t just about the two running backs, either. It’s about the offensive line that paves the way for those four seasons. That group has continually improved since Allen and Singleton arrived ahead of the 2022 season, and is now one of the best in the country.

That includes Nick Dawkins, who is entering his sixth year with the program and his second as the team’s starting center. He’s seen Allen and Singleton grow in that time, and is now a crucial part of their attempt to break the record.

But right now, that’s not at the front of his mind.

“That doesn’t handle itself unless we handle every game,” Dawkins said Tuesday. “I know it’s the cliche answer, but it’s real, it’s the 1-0. Both of those guys are talented guys, they came back for a reason. It’s just our job to open up run lanes for them. If we do our job every game, starting with Nevada, I think something like that will naturally occur.”

Singleton said as much at Penn State’s local media day in early August, acknowledging that it’s secondary to winning a national championship.

Because that’s why he and Allen really came back — they want to win.

It just so happens that a part of winning will likely include both of them eclipsing Royster and moving into first and second all-time on the Penn State rushing leader list.

But, then what? Barring a miraculous tie, the most likely scenario is one leaving as the all-time leading rusher, and the other being second.

Singleton isn’t ready to think about that.

“We probably talk about it a little bit,” Singleton said at local media day. “But at the same time, we just want the same thing — to win games and win a national championship.”

Jon Sauber

Centre Daily Times

(814) 231-6461

Jon Sauber covers Penn State football and men’s basketball for the Centre Daily Times. He earned his B.A. in digital and print journalism from Penn State and his M.A. in sports journalism from IUPUI. His previous stops include jobs at The Indianapolis Star, the NCAA, and Rivals.