They have remained united as teammates, roommates and friends during their time at Penn State.
They compete fiercely with each other and cheer loudly for each other.
Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton are a special pair who will soon finish their college careers as two of the very best running backs in school history.
“We’ve been so fortunate to be able to keep those guys,” Nittany Lions interim head coach Terry Smith said. “When you do have two guys (who are) both super successful stay and compete with each other and one not leave?
“It’s a testament to what James (former Penn State coach James Franklin) did prior. It’s a testament to Penn State. And it’s a testament to those two guys.”
Allen has emerged as Penn State’s No. 1 running back over the last several weeks and has 3,794 career rushing yards, trailing only Saquon Barkley (3,843) and all-time leader Evan Royster (3,932) with two regular season games left. He’s not available for interviews this week with Penn State beat reporters.
“Fatman (Allen) has performed really well throughout the whole season,” Singleton said Tuesday. “He’s taking advantage of the opportunities he’s getting. He’s been really good. He had a great work ethic through the whole offseason.”
Singleton, a former Gov. Mifflin star, passed Blair Thomas and Tony Hunt last week at Michigan State to move into fifth place at 3,331 yards, 67 behind Curt Warner.
He’s within range of breaking three school records that are held by Barkley. He has 41 career rushing touchdowns, two behind Barkley, and 51 total TDs in his career, also two behind. He also has 5,308 all-purpose yards, trailing Barkley at 5,538.
“It would mean a lot to me to tie them or especially to break them,” Singleton said when asked about Barkley’s records. “That would be part of my legacy, being that type of player.”
Allen and Singleton will play their final home game when the Lions (1-6 Big Ten, 4-6) take on Nebraska (4-3, 7-3) Saturday night at 7 (TV-NBC) at Beaver Stadium.
The Cornhuskers rank 91st in the nation in rushing defense, allowing 161.1 yards per game. Penn State ran for a season-high 240 yards last week in a 28-10 win at Michigan State behind Allen’s career-high 181 yards and two TDs.
“Obviously the most important goal is to win the game,” Smith said, “but we do know that in our keys to victory every week is for Kaytron and Nick to touch the ball. If they’re touching the ball, that means we’re going to get closer to that goal.
“I want nothing more than for him (Allen) to have the opportunity to break the record, but it’s paramount for us to get him the football for us to have success. They work hand in hand.”
Allen has had two 100-yard games this season; Singleton has had none. Allen leads Penn State in rushing with 917 yards (5.6 average); Singleton has 419 (3.9 average).
“This year obviously wasn’t what I expected or what the whole team expected,” Singleton said, “but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. These last four years at Penn State have meant a lot to me, my teammates, my coaches and my family.
“To go out there Saturday and get a win on Senior Night would mean a lot.”
Allen and Singleton began this season both aiming to unseat Royster as Penn State’s all-time leading rusher, to become All-Americans and to lead the Lions to a national championship.
It’s apparent that Singleton is rooting for Allen to break the record.
“That’s my boy, one of my best friends here,” he said. “He just brings energy to the team and to our running back room. He’s been a really good teammate and a really good friend of mine. He’s been really good.”
Smith would like to see Allen break Royster’s mark and for Singleton to smash Barkley’s three records, whether it’s against Nebraska or next week at Rutgers.
“We use a saying in the cornerback room: Everyone can eat together,” Smith said. “We don’t have to pit against each other. Those guys are true role models of how to get it done. They’re buddies. They’re friends. They collaborate. They discuss ball together. They help each other.
“It’s kind of cool to watch those guys. They just love ball. You know, certain games it’s Nick’s style and certain games it’s Kaytron’s style. I would like to see both of them get 100 yards Saturday. It would be beautiful.”
