Seider: Penn State runnings backs ‘having fun again’ with 2024 success

There’s no doubt that Andy Kotelnicki has revamped the Penn State football offense. It’s night and day from last season, the ability to run and pass the ball so effortlessly. The beneficiaries have truly been Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen who are starting to take over games for the Nittany Lions. Ja’Juan Seider sees the joy that his backs are having once again.

Last season felt like every drive was so overthought on offense. Getting points on the board in any game was like pulling teeth. But that hasn’t been the case in 2024. During the latest Penn State football game against Illinois, running backs Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen took over.

Singleton finished with 94 rushing yards and one touchdown last Saturday night. While his counterpart Kaytron Allen led the team with 102 rushing yards and also scored a touchdown. On Thursday, running backs coach Ja’Juan Seider spoke to the Penn State media, where he shared what he sees in the room at the moment.

“You watch great offenses, they have fun, and that’s what our team is doing right now,” Seider said. “They’re having fun because they execute at a high level, and that’s how you have fun.”

“We are having fun,” he added. “We got a close-knit group, and the kids, they reciprocate what they see out of us, right? They see us having fun, they’re going to have fun.”

The comments are telling based on how last season went. Not only are Singleton and Allen playing well but they’re catching the ball out of the backfield and being used in creative motions by Kotelnicki.

Ja’Juan Seider added he believes the duo “haven’t hit their best yet.”

Where do both backs rank in the Big Ten?

Mandatory Credit: Matthew O’Haren-USA TODAY Sports

Comparing statistics is challenging early in the season. Some Big Ten teams have played four games while others have played five. But it’s worth noting the type of season that Singleton and Allen have started with through the first month of play.

Nick Singleton has racked up 408 rushing yards this season which puts him at No. 5 in the conference. The most impressive piece is he only has 53 carries. Whereas the backs ahead of him have 70 plus carries this season.

Allen ranks No. 14 overall in the Big Ten with 289 rushing yards. He had a slower start to the season than Singleton. But based on how he played against Illinois, one would assume that he is breaking through that slow start. We should see a heavy dose of both backs on Saturday against UCLA with kickoff slated for noon on FOX.