Penn State RB Kaytron Allen’s CFP emergence carry game

As he often does, the Penn State running back Kaytron Allen arrived at the Fiesta Bowl with a purpose. After a 17-carry, 135-yard performance that outshone the Boise State All-American Ashton JeantyAllen has put people on the national stage.

“He’s playing his tail off right now,” James Franklin said on Saturday. “You guys recognize that. I think everybody recognizes that. I know there was a ton of conversation about Mr. Jeanty, and deservedly so from Boise. He deserved that type of conversation. But I would argue that we has the best duo in all of college football (with Allen and Nick Singleton).

I think, of course, that we are about to play against a team that also has some good backs. But again, we are part of that conversation. Kaytron is just so physical. He’s just so physical. He wears people down. He’s able to run over you, keep his feet, extend runs.”

Allen’s best run against the Broncos didn’t even count. Faced with a short-yardage situation in the second quarter, Allen went up the middle and threw over Boise safety Zion Washington, a 6-1, 212-pound junior waiting for him in the open field. Allen changed direction and rumbled downfield for a 50-yard gain, by far his longest effort of the season.

Although the run was called back for a holding penalty on Penn State’s Sal Wormley, Franklin showed the clip to the team as a whole when he arrived back in Pennsylvania. He

“Even though it was called back, I showed it because I thought it was such an impressive run and he deserved his flowers at that moment and so did the rest of the group,” Franklin explained. “I think he runs great. I think (offensive line coach Phil) Trautwein and (tight ends coach Hush) Howl deserves a lot of credit too. These players deserve a lot of credit. Andy (Kotelnicki) certainly deserves a lot of credit. A lot of people spend time talking about Andy and Traut and Ty and the rest of those guys on the offensive line. They just play so well and so consistent and physical. And as we’ve talked about, game travel ran. And at this point in the season to be able to run the ball.”

Through the first two rounds of the College Football Playoff, a rejuvenated Allen has helped the Nittany Lions make more of a postseason run than any team. He scored twice against SMU in the first round after passing for 124 yards and a touchdown against Oregon in the Big Ten title game. He surpassed 1,000 yards in the win over Boise State and now has 1,026 on the year, leading the way for Penn State.

Allen’s postseason form is far from the low point of a seven-carry, 10-yard outing against Minnesota in November. The last few weeks have featured an angry running back intent on finishing carries.

“He runs like that every time he gets the ball. I think that’s just who he is by nature,” quarterback Drew Allar said on Saturday. “He will punish whoever gets in his way. He’s been that way since he’s been on campus. I think the first time I ever saw that was the first time we had contact in spring prom, when we were new.

“Just looking for contact, you don’t see many guys just looking for contact like he does. It’s a really big energy boost for the whole team, especially for the offense and for the O-Line. I know it’s a huge boost, when they see Kaytron and Nick being very physical on the edge and finishing runs.

“I think Kaytron is playing his best football right now. He looks really quick. He does a good job in pass (protection). I think Kaytron’s game has really taken the next step and it’s been fun to watch the.”