Penn State football, rather stunningly, will have both of their NFL-ready tailbacks together for one more season.
Kaytron Allen joined fellow junior co-starter Nick Singleton on Monday in announcing his decision to return in 2025. He announced via social media that he will, indeed, play for the Nittany Lions again rather than enter this spring’s NFL Draft or transfer to another school to be the feature runner.
Allen, from Norfolk, Virginia, peaked during Penn State’s postseason drive. He was exceptionally productive in averaging 6.7 yards per carry (410 yards) and scoring three touchdowns during the past four games. He ran for 134 yards in the College Football Playoff victory over Boise State, 124 in the Big Ten Championship loss to Oregon and 82 in the narrow, season-ending CFP semifinal loss to Notre Dame.
Allen will return with Singleton after they became the first PSU running backs to rush for more than 1,000 yards in the same season.
Overall, Allen led the Lions in rushing in 2024 with 1,108 yards and averaged 5 yards per attempt. He also caught 18 passes for 153 and scored twice more.
Allen’s decision comes as he weighed turning pro or even potentially transferring to another school for his senior season. He and Singleton are NFL-ready now, according to Matt Millen, the Big Ten Network analyst and former star lineman at Penn State and in the NFL.
Allen said this, in part, in his social media post on X, formerly known as Twitter:
“Throughout my life, my family and support system has been critical in helping me in my football journey. Through discussions with them, my coaches and teammates, it’s clear that we still have a lot more to accomplish as a team at Penn State.
“I love playing football and being able to play it in front of these great Penn State fans has made it extra special. I look forward to it again next season.”
Allen’s decision comes while he mulled over whether or not to turn pro early. He and Singleton are NFL-ready now, according to Matt Millen, the Big Ten Network analyst and former star lineman at Penn State and in the NFL.
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“Both do all the little things well,” Millen said before PSU’s playoff victory over Boise State. “I like to watch them in (pass) protection. They’re both excellent. They stick their face in there. … They catch the ball well, they understand protections, and that is the whole next level.”
Because “when (NFL) rookies come in, especially running backs, (coaches are) usually not too thrilled about what they see and don’t see in the passing game. And so I think both these guys, I think they see protections pretty darn well. So that’s a big deal. And I think and they both catch the ball well. They run the ball well, they have good vision.
“They have all the requisite skills to be able to be at the next level, which they’re going to be. They’re both excellent players, but they’re ready now. Oh yeah.”
Frank Bodani covers Penn State football for the York Daily Record and USA Today Network. Contact him at fbodani@ydr.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @YDRPennState.
This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Kaytron Allen, Nicholas Singleton return to Penn State football
