GLENDALE, Ariz. — Penn State running backs coach Ja’Juan Seider, for one, got tired of hearing about Boise State’s stud of a running back, Ashton Jeanty, in the days leading up to the College Football Playoff quarterfinal game being played in the Fiesta Bowl.
For two main reasons: Seider’s own Nittany Lion running backs, Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton.
Jeanty entered Tuesday’s CFP game in State Farm Stadium with 2,497 rushing yards in 2024 — just 132 yards from passing Barry Sanders for the all-time single-season rushing in an FBS season.
Allen and Singleton were also on the cusp of doing something special — becoming the first Nittany Lions’ running tandem to each gain 1,000 yards rushing in the same season. Seider made sure the Penn State offensive line knew about that opportunity.
“We definitely take pride in that,” said offensive lineman Vega Ioane. “A couple of weeks ago coach Seider said that they were only a couple hundred yards away from both reaching 1,000. When I heard that, I turned around to Shelly (Drew Shelton) and said we got to get them both to 1,000.”
Shelton was all in. “We knew they were a little bit short of 1,000 each today coming in,” Shelton said. “We take a lot of pride in getting them to that milestone. We want to run the ball. That’s what we like to do, that’s what we want to do, so anything we can do to help them get it is what we did.”
So, yes, No. 6 Penn State’s No. 1 priority was beating No. 3 Boise State (12-2) — which PSU did, 31-14, to up its record to an all-time Penn State best 13-2 and earn a trip to the CFP semifinals in the Orange Bowl on Jan. 9 against the winner of Wednesday’s Notre Dame-Georgia game.
But, the 2 x 1,000 yards on the way would be vindication of sorts as well.
“You would hear it everywhere,” Seider said on Tuesday night. “Every picture, every graphic was, you know, about Jeanty. The kid deserved it, he was the Heisman runner-up. But I got two guys who are super talented, and to me, as talented as him — if not better. So, you get in these games, you have opportunities to prove it.”
Opportunity knocked. And both Allen and Singleton answered. The final numbers tell the story:
Allen had 17 carries for 134 yards, and a 7.9-yards per carry average. Singleton had 12 carries for 87 yards, for 7.2 ypc, including a 58-yard TD burst in the fourth quarter. Jeanty? After gaining just 39 yards in the first half, the Boise State back finished with 104 yards on 30 rushes — a scant 3.5 yards per carry.
“Shout out to Jeanty,” Singleton said after the game. “He’s obviously a good player too. Our defense stepped up to the challenge and played a heck of a game. It means a lot, both of us getting 1,000 yards. You don’t see that happen very much.”
In 2024, Allen now has 1,026 yards rushing and Allen has 1,015. All-time at Penn State, Singleton ranks No. 11, with 2,828 yards rushing, and Allen is No. 13, with 2,795 yards.
WHAT QB1 SAYS
Penn State quarterback Drew Allar thinks the duo does not get enough credit for what it brings to the Penn State offense. And he reminded the backs as much before kickoff against Boise State.
“I told them pregame: Obviously, they have a really good back, and he’s had a phenomenal season,” said Allar, who threw for three touchdowns in the win — two to Tyler Warren and one to Omari Evans. “I’m glad they took this spotlight away from everything tonight and really sealed the game for us. Kaytron had a lot of great runs for us, and then obviously, Nick capping it off with that 58-yard run was great for us.
“I love being around those guys. For them, it’s the team first at the end of the day. They’ll do whatever it takes to win. They’ll carry the ball 30 times a game if they need to. They’ll also pass block for me with the O-line and give me time to throw it down field. Those two guys are unselfish.
“They bought into our culture, and it’s hard — obviously, they want to be the feature backs, just because that’s the nature of the position, and put up stats and numbers. But they’re unselfish. They want to do whatever it takes to win football games, and it’s keeping them fresh. The best thing about it is they’re fresh throughout the game. You see Kaytron and Nick breaking off long fourth-quarter runs and punishing guys. It’s because they’re rotating in and out throughout the game and keeping their legs fresh and punishing the defenders whenever they can touch them.”
WHAT SEIDER SAYS
For Seider, he’ll put his money on what Singleton and Allen have accomplished as a rare — almost unreplicated — feat in this era of portal transfers, NIL and me-first college contracts.
“They play with passion. They play like pros,” said Seider, who has been on the Penn State staff since 2018. “That’s what they are, and it’s time to start treating them like that, because that’s what they are. And I’m not saying that just because I coach them, but these two are special. Sometimes you take it for granted because they are still here and they play together. If you put these guys each in a different offense, they would be a feature back.
“It’s hard to put into words, to see two kids be so unselfish in this day and age, and to be able to see him play with each other and play for each other. As a coach, I may never, ever see this again, especially in this climate we’re in. So, I’m going to try to always cherish these moments with these guys.
“It’s huge. I never had it in my career. I know we’ve been close here and there. It just showed how much work they have put into it. We were nicked up early this year, and it’s great to see us now healthy and playing our best football, and at the right time. It’s great for Penn State to have both of those guys healthy.”
WHAT THE O-LINE SAYS
The Nittany Lion offensive linemen couldn’t agree more:
Nolan Rucci, who last year at this time was playing for Wisconsin: “They make us look really good, I’ll tell you that. And yeah, I’m thankful to have two guys back there that can run the rock like no others. We just go out there and make sure they get we give them some running lanes, something to work with. That way they can just cut around and do their things. I think we did a pretty good job of that tonight.”
Ioane: “They have the mentality they have when they go out there, when they run the ball, that they’re not trying to go down easy at all. It’s just a war when they go out there, especially Fat (Allen’s nickname). He doesn’t care if there’s two people in front of him, he’s going to lower his shoulder to just run through him. That’s just the way both of them are. That’s what makes each other great.“
Shelton: “Obviously, we feel like we have two of the best backs in America — the best 1-2 punch that there is. As an offensive line, we have the ability to get them going, help them get going. Once they get going, they’re unstoppable. They’re a powerful duo, very explosive. And they’re great, great dudes.”
