Penn State 2023 early look: Could the Nittany Lions boast a pair of 1,000-yard rushers in the fall?

The answer to the above headline is yes.

Penn State was 133 yards away from doing it in 2022. And that was with a pair of true freshmen — extremely talented true freshmen — leading the way.

The Nittany Lions’ running game renaissance last season was something special to watch. Penn State’s 2021 offense averaged just 3.2 yards per rush attempt and produced only 11 touchdowns on the ground in 13 games.

But the Lions’ offensive coaches and players, aware of the 2021 struggles, made a commitment to improving the run game, a commitment that started in spring drills and continued through August.

Once the season began, it was apparent early that something was different.

The offensive linemen and tight ends got more push at the line of scrimmage.

And it helped that Franklin’s 2022 recruiting class featured two of the most dynamic runners in the nation.

They should be even better with more experience. Here is an early look at the PSU running back room.

Top returnees: Nick Singleton, Kaytron Allen

What a pair.

Singleton, a five-star signee, ran for 1,061 yards and scored 12 touchdowns on the ground. The 6-foot, 219-pounder averaged 6.8 yards per attempt and Singleton also caught a touchdown pass and returned a kickoff 100 yards for a score against Rutgers.

Singleton’s long rush, 87 yards, produced a third-quarter touchdown against Utah in the Rose Bowl. He had four 100-yard games and roughed up Auburn for 124 yards and two touchdowns on only 10 carries in PSU’s 41-12 road victory in mid-September.

The 5-11, 201-pound Allen, a four-star signee who prepped at IMG Academy, began to heat up in the Auburn game, as well. A January enrollee like Singleton, Allen ran for 867 yards and 10 touchdowns, averaging 5.2 yards per attempt.

Allen had a pair of 100-yard games (Central Michigan, Rutgers) but his best overall performance occurred at Indiana. He ran for 86 yards and three touchdowns on 18 carries and added two catches for 72 yards.

Moving on: Keyvone Lee

A third-year player in 2022, Lee began the season as part of the Lions’ running back rotation but Franklin said Lee suffered an undisclosed injury early in the year and he didn’t receive a carry after Penn State’s 41-17 loss at Michigan in mid-October.

Lee, who entered the transfer portal earlier this month, finished 2022 with 94 yards on 25 carries.

Players to watch: Singleton and Allen

Penn State’s running back depth chart is short on experience entering 2023 with Lee’s departure. Tank Smith (Penn Hills), entering his fourth season in State College, carried 23 times for 61 yards. But it’s all about Singleton and Allen. Everyone will be watching the second-year sophomores.

2023 signees: London Montgomery, Cameron Wallace

Franklin addressed the running back position with a pair of additions. Montgomery, a standout at Scranton Prep, missed his final high school season with a torn ACL. He should be available for August practices.

“When you get hurt, don’t play your senior year, there’s not a lot of people talking about you,” Franklin said during his December Signing Day news conference when asked about Montgomery.

“You watch (Montgomery’s) junior year tape, it’s really good.”

Wallace, who played at Montgomery High School from Georgia, is also expected to be in State College for August practices.