With three regular-season games remaining on the Penn State football schedule, freshmen running backs [autotag]Nick Singleton[/autotag] and [autotag]Kaytron Allen[/autotag] have already put their names in the program’s record book, with each knocking off two big names in program history. And they are not done yet.
In last week’s win at Indiana, Singleton scored one rushing touchdown and Allen scored three. That brought the season total for each up to eight rushing touchdowns to set a new program record for most rushing touchdowns in a single season by a freshman. The previous record had been seven, which was held by [autotag]D.J. Dozier[/autotag] and [autotag]Saquon Barkley[/autotag], two of the best running backs in the history of Penn State football. Now the record is, for the moment, shared by a pair of freshmen teammates, and it is likely that record continues to be shattered in the coming weeks.
Thunder & Lightning… bringin' the storm 🌩️#WeAre #LawnBoyz pic.twitter.com/pySmh9rcHZ
— Penn State Football (@PennStateFball) November 7, 2022
Lawddddd @NickSingletonn
— Saquon Barkley (@saquon) September 17, 2022
Penn State faces Maryland this weekend, and the Terrapins have been known to give up a few rushing touchdowns. Maryland has allowed 11 rushing touchdowns this season, including two given up last week at Wisconsin and two the week before against Northwestern.
Penn State will also face Rutgers next week, and the Scarlet Knights have given up 16 rushing touchdowns this year. Michigan State, Penn State’s final opponent of the season, has allowed nine rushing touchdowns this season, so odds are fairly good Allen and Singleton will have a chance to reach double digits for their rushing touchdown total this year.
Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton had 161 combined rushing yards against Indiana … 101 of those yards came after contact, per @PFF_College. Allen and Singleton were talented when they arrived at Penn State. But these freshmen continue to develop, especially during/after contact. pic.twitter.com/prOeCFmcC7
— Johnny McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) November 7, 2022
Maryland running back Roman Hemby is also within striking distance of the Maryland freshman rushing touchdown record. Hemby, with seven touchdowns this season, is four touchdowns away from tying the Maryland freshman record of 11, currently D.J. Adams from the 2010 season. Hemby can score his touchdowns in bunches, and he may need to do so coming down the stretch.
Hemby scored three touchdowns in a win against Northwestern, but he only has one other multi-touchdown game, a season-opener win against Buffalo with two. Hemby was scoreless last week at Wisconsin, but Penn State has given up 12 rushing touchdowns this year. Michigan scored four of them, and Ohio State scored three.
Allen, Singleton, and Hemby have all been having terrific freshmen seasons for Penn State and Maryland, respectively, and they will all be featured players in this weekend’s game in Beaver Stadium. The future of the Big Ten running back legacy should be fun to watch this weekend.
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