The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman released his annual College Football Freaks List (subscription required) earlier today. The piece, which highlights 50 college football players every season, is one of my favorites every year. It’s a tremendous way to become aware of some of the sport’s most impressive athletes.
This year’s edition, believe it or not, is heavy on Penn State players. The Nittany Lions boast the No. 9 (DE Chop Robinson), No .15 (DL Jordan van den Berg), No. 23 (OT Olumuyiwa Fashanu), No. 31 (RB Nick Singleton), No. 38 (DL Zane Durant) and No. 43 (LB Abdul Carter) players on the list.
Wisconsin, on the other hand, only has one player represented this year: running back Braelon Allen. Allen comes in at No. 34 this year, after he slotted in at No. 18 in 2022.
I’ve never had as many players from one team as I do this year from @PennStateFball but that’s how loaded this squad is with Freaks. And, as we’ve said before, you can scoff at some of these amazing numbers, but Penn State guys prove it at the NFL combine: https://t.co/4bqHQeV0tq
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) August 15, 2023
Feldman notes Allen made his list last year ‘on the strength of his power-cleaning 406 pounds and clocking a 1.49 in his 10-yard split. He benched 365. Allen has bulked up 10 more pounds to 245 now.’
Expect big things for Allen in the Wisconsin backfield this season.