Penn State RBs Nick Singleton & Kaytron Allen | STATE of STATE

hey it's state of State we got your NY line update it's a football discussion with Tom and Justin so kick back and press play with former Penn State and NFL defensive back Justin King I'm Tom Hanahan this is state of State this podcast is presented by bet online bet online is your number one source for the NBA and NHL playoffs this season every stat every matchup and even live odds while the games are being played when the game's over head to the online casino and get in on a game of blackjack or poker or unwind with one of over 150 slots games head to betonline.ag today or use your mobile device to get in on the action don't forget use our promo code believe that's ble a V for your 50% welcome bonus on your first deposit state of state is presented by bet online the game starts here are you looking for a higher potential return on your savings turn to our sponsor save as an SEC registered investment advisor save safely combines the best parts of saving and investing with its Market 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considering what he could potentially be doing with the running game this upcoming season thank you for tuning in like comment subscribe rate US turn on notifications all that good stuff and follow us on social media on X Instagram Tik Tock stateof State pod Justin uh a lot of news in the last 24 hours when it comes to Penn State football together we're going to get to touching on the Beaver Stadium Renovations in the greater world of college football this lawsuit going on between Georgia quarterback Jaden rashada and the University of Florida's football program and staff is absolutely fascinating but let's stick it home with Penn State for now it's fascinating because you and I were talking about this off air we've talked so much about this offense and what Andy coton Nikki could do the quarterbacks the wide receivers obviously have garnered a lot of attention but it seems to be just kind of this assumption is oh there's gon to be a focus on the running game and you feel this this lack of discussion about two phenomenal tailbacks that are going to be at the center of this and something that I hearkened back to thinking about oh what could the passing game be Tyler Warren could potentially be the number one passing threat in this but really the overall number one threat in this offense my anticipation is going to be hopefully Nick Singleton or a combination of Singleton and KRON Allen is far more likely but given what we saw in the field last year from Nick Singleton there are certainly some people who are curious as to what we're going to get let's start with number 10 Nick great freshman year sophomore year statistically things went down a little bit in the rushing game came up in the passing game which was encouraging but he just lacked that overall explosion and burst that we saw as a freshman knowing what little we now know about Andy cotal Nikki what do you think Singleton is capable of in 2024 I mean I'd like to be very clear about I don't think he lost a a burst or loss of Step at all I think the opportunities to show his burst and his unique abilities was limited by how quick he engaged with Defenders that's just not necessarily like his strong suit as a runner that zero to five type of thing he's more of a straight line um high octane High uh high octane engine type of running back where it gets into space and kind of become like a bucking bull and really get going and have a home run type of back versus like a KRON where a Zer to five type of Runner where you can engage with block engage with tacklers make them Miss in a phone booth more I say more Stout but just a different type of tackle uh within the box and so I don't think last sure Nick necessarily lost his step I just don't think he had the running lanes that he did as a freshman whether defenses weren putting as many people in the or putting more people in the box after they saw his home run ability because once you have a running back that can score from 70 80 yards you have to respect that I think that's what we saw from defensive coordinators from his freshman year to a sophomore year now it's on to him to develop and increase that ability from zero5 running ability to make guys miss so he can get to the opportunity and get into the open space to show his uh explosive um traits and things of that nature and that's a little bit to do with Andy kcki and his offense and what he draws up to use his um his weapons the right way especially with the offensive line in particular in 2023 there was certainly Talent certainly a lot of ability some injuries here and there but I don't necessarily know where to pin the the lack of production on is it the the potential infighting between Mike yuch and the rest of the coaching staff of what could have been there it it's hard to pinpoint one thing well yeah I mean sometimes it's hard to understand why production changes when there's so many different factors in something like football right there's offensive line changes there's trying to find an identity with a first year starting quarterback with Drew all trying to get him into the mix so when you have those second and third and manageable when he was coming as a as a freshman where was like all right we're gonna give him these opportunities and he was able to get into the open space or open field and really shows his Elite Speed and his burst and all those good things I think last year there was a little bit of a rhythm Factor within the offense of like okay what are we want to be are we gonna be a downhill running team are we gonna try to get Drew all to pass the ball like like who are we getting in Rhythm so with that along with just some of his natural um abilities or deficiencies that may show up it's it's up to co ncky to make sure he gets opportunity or has some creativity to get in space and show his uh ability but with that there is an onus on Nick to continue to develop his zero to five running style so if he does encounter uh tacklers within zero to five yards that he's able to make guys miss and get to that second level so he can show his Elite athleticism and speed just to bring up some of the statistics for this altogether in 2022 Nick Singleton 156 rushing attempts 1,61 yards 12 touchdowns along long of 87 uh 6.8 yards per carry 81.6 yards per game on the ground and then he reeled in 11 catches for 85 yards a touchdown along of 22 an average of 7.7 in 2023 171 attempts rushing 752 yards on the ground eight rushing touchdowns along of only 24 compared to 87 obviously that explosive play discussion we were having averaged 4.4 yards per carry so nearly 2 and A2 yards drop off and 57.8 yards rushing per game his receptions went up which I think is the interesting point 26 catches 308 yards receiving two touchdowns along of 53 about two catches per game and 11.8 yards per catch seeing him getting involved late in the season I think a lot of people are going to look at the Michigan State game be like oh here's a sample of what it could be obviously Michigan State an inferior opponent at that point in the schedule but that utilization I think is very curious for Nick Singleton considering the creativity of Andy Kiki's offenses historically and it's something you and I have talked about is that if the wide receivers aren't necessarily reliable or consistent or what many hope they could be well shoot number 10 standing right there and if he's truly the number one possible threat in this offense why not use them in the running game and the passing game heavily I mean anytime you can create matchups I think that is the goal right like and with the that's the offensive coordinator's job is to find those matchups Styles make fights and pick the favorable matchups for the offense but when you have Dynamic guys in the backfield like that and that can do both it's still your benefit I mean we' seen it even with saquin was at Penn State like a lot of he was a running back but a lot of the plays that he made were in space whether it was kickoff returns um screens check down save me save me plays like save me Sequon and like you know those things happen you have special guys in space because the one thing about the talent level in college where people don't realize it's like yeah everyone's good but the better players are still better than most so that's why when we talk about recruiting and talent acquisition nil is so important because just that one Talent acquisition uh player or asset can really change the trajectory of a whole football team and again given the landscape of the transfer portal nil those sorts of things the fact that you're getting now a third third season of Nick Singleton at Penn State considering that he was a five-star running back and the number one overall recruit recruit in the country Gatorade Player of the Year like all the accolades plausible if he was unhappy or didn't see development moving in the right direction or didn't like the direction of the program all the means are there for a player like him to bounce someplace else and he would be picked up very very quickly that being said Penn State fans are I think a little bit more in love with KRON Allen after 2023 because KRON produced you've compared him at least in running style to a Frank Gore and it's nice to have that difference in style these two are roughly the exact same size I believe Nick Singleton 6 foot 226 and then you have KRON listed at 511 225 but just they seem just so very different given the fact that this year the offensive tackle spots are kind of a question mark But the interior of the offensive line is a little bit more solidified do you think that lends itself more to kron's style or Singleton style I mean it depends on what type of running plays they're gonna be asked to do I mean if you think of like a Zone type of Runner you would think K KRON he makes quick reads not he's real Shifty he's a hard tackle from different angles and if you're thinking like getting downhill and more power attack you would think uh Nick Singleton being able to split seams get into the second level with with Full headest Steam and being able to get there so I I think it comes down to the play designer what type of runs they're act to perform or execute that comes down to the offensive coordinator and alignment and the philosophy play calls and who's GNA actually carry it out there seems to be a higher ceiling for production with Nick again it's is just looking off of the statistics with Kron R freshman year 167 attempts on the ground 867 yards rushing 10 touchdowns along of 59 uh average 5.2 yards per carry 66.7 yards per game zero receptions 2023 172 attempts on the ground 92 rushing yards six touchdowns 50 yards was his long so he continued to show the ability to have explosive plays and then uh an average that stayed at 5.2 his average game went up to 69.4 he had one reception for four yards so it's not necessarily that Mike yuch saw KRON Allen is somebody who is going to contribute in the passing game from what you've observed from KRON is it plausible from him because there are certain backs that we've seen historically where it's like hey you just need to give this guy The Rock uh and hand it off to him in space it might not necessarily be there I mean as a Zone Runner I think he can catch the ball in space I think there's different ways to catch the ball you talking about G Thomson where he's lined up in the slot and running Slants and outs like a m Sanders that type of running back maybe not but he's very useful in the sense of third and short or pass and downs where he's in the block and he's a screen back where you get him with a a conveyor belt of envoy of linemen to be able to take him out the uh into the open space I think he's he can be very good from a screen perspective um but yeah line them up as a slot no you probably can't do that I mean but that's but that's okay because like when you get those third fours or those second and threes and you need a first down you feel confident with that guy being there because I know how frustrating it is when you have running backs that can make big plays but we can't get third and two third and ones and we're punting all the time like that's conversion that conversion trait or that conversion ability is just as critical is being able to line up on the outside if anything that spark potentially in the passing game with the running game maybe if you're not looking at KRON certainly you're looking at Nick Singleton but that's where you get into the Quinton Martin jors into the cam walles of the world those are guys who can contribute in that respect it seems like at least from what little we know about them thus far um I I guess my question to you is identity for this rushing game you you talk about identity all the time and I think it's so important and it felt like last year I don't know what the hell the identity was of the offense and I think internally they were struggling figure that out as well but now with Annie cotal Nikki that emphasis on pre- Snap motion uh trying to utilize different formations utilizing the same Personnel that Penn State has at the same time it's it leaves a lot of room for creativity which is very exciting but I wonder what you think that identity is I I don't necessarily think it's going to be quite like Michigan you know you have two great backs like Michigan did with korm and Edwards last year Singleton and Allen are outstanding but I just feel like it'll be similar but different what do you think the challenge is creating a balanced attack that has an identity I think Penn State is at their best when they it's a balanced attack being able to run efficiently play action pass and do all those different things now how it's window dressed from Andy kikki's offense and how he gets to these different aspects I think is why they hired them and PID him the big bucks right but but the end of the day I think a balanced attack is what we're going to be looking for from a spread from a spread look a spread attack balanced offense is what I think we're going to look for them from Penn State's offense moving forward state of state is a proud supporter of blue white Outfitters blue white Outfitters was created as a retail shop meant to highlight the confidence competitiveness and fearlessness of the elite athletes found throughout the history of Penn State University check out their lock down you and Lawn booys merchandise today all sales from blue white outfit directly benefit Penn State student athletes visit www.bl outfitters.com today Circ uh some of those Oregon offenses maybe from back in the day like Dennis Dixon's era would that make sense yeah very similar I mean you look at unlv's offense L had great success with Brena Mary and that that go- go offense that that misdirection where the fundamentals of football are still in place but you're using some creativity to get edges and number uh advantages on certain edges and things of that nature but it's still Baseline run Zone play action getting guys into space making sure the defense is playing sound football and keeping them on their heels but the attack isn't necessarily Innovative the Innovative part is how we get into all these different um Concepts obviously we have to see how the 2024 season goes from a win loss perspective production perspective injuries Health all those sorts of things but what does your gut say about whether or not Nick Singleton Andor KRON Allen will be on the field for Penn State in 2025 not a fortune teller but uh that's really hard to say I mean with the with the options of going to the NFL I think guys should have an opportunity to stay in school a little bit longer but I mean time will tell how they produced this year I mean I don't think for running backs they don't want to take many more hitss on their body uh you know there's there's a nice drop off in just their career production from just a amount of times that they Carri the football so I mean when there's an opportunity to make some money you never know maybe it's the transfer portal or the NFL but from a individual playing running back going to my fourth year there's there's definitely decisions that need to be make as like okay how do I now start to monetize my abilities because the shelf life is what so long and understanding what you can do there's just more creative creative ways of executing that besides going to the NFL so we'll see what they do but uh it could be at in state it could be somewhere else I don't really have too much besides the options that they have no I understand and listen like you said you're not a fortune teller and it's just you know it's a speculative question at the same time it's it feels like there is a really outstanding chance specifically for Singleton to break out out this year in a way that I've talked about it before in this show a lot of people thought he'd be three and done and maybe cotal Nikki style of offense is what takes him to that that next level to the point where he has to go to the NFL because it's a no-brainer right and then you would hope so oh yeah great for us yeah right yeah it's just like I mean I think going to the NFL is a completely different outcome of the Season versus like being disappointed and transferring into the season and like the same thing is like all right are they gonna be on the team in 2025 that was kind of question I was answering so from that like yeah if he goes to the NFL awesome if he has a great season and someone pays him a king's Ransom that we can't match that sucks like if there's just so many different ways where he can have success or not have success and be on the team or not be on the team so it's kind of hard especially in today's age so I mean pen state has a lot of power right now since he's on the team so I think making sure that he's deployed to the NFL with nice production is the key and if anything if there is a world where Nick Singleton say goes into the 2025 NFL draft and KRON Allen decides to stick around boy that is a very developed product for Penn State to capitalize at that season the 2025 not to say nothing will be accomplished in 2024 but you just think about what this offense could look like if it was singular in that respect if we saw it for a stint this past season when KRON Allen had an injury and Nick Singleton had to be the guy but it just seemed like the offense was so disjointed you never really realized the full potential of what that could be with that one pure running back but you you've talked about it a lot and especially the longevity of the position it behooves you to have multiple guys that you can get out there not necessarily a guy who is uh an Adrien Peterson type where it's like he's the starter and he's going to get 30 carries a game and the other guy might get in there for like two a game at most or something like that Penn State doesn't have that and that's okay because it feels like the game has moved away from that what do you feel I mean running back back commit is definitely something that has happened but I mean you're pointing out the reasons right well you have a running back that can catch the ball at the Back Field uh create matchups on the outside you have another running back that can run and convert on second and third and fourth and short more of a zon type of running back so it's more of the dichotomy of play selections and options where you talk about the value of that running back position continues to diminish because there's not too many guys that can do everything where they can line up on the outside run the Zone run pass block through this and third and there's just more of Specialties within that running back position even when I was here with with saquin and Miles like their first and second round draft Pi six plus years in the NFL both of these guys mil didn't see the field that much but he could have split carries the same way that these guys split carries like that's how talented they were but I just think that there's so many variables within football that's hard to make a a judgment on that that piece um for running backs and like their production could that standpoint the creativity which with Andy c c Nikki operates to put together his offense if KRON for instance adds that ability to be a pass catcher man does that really improve his stock that's that's a really important thing but could really help the offense altogether um overall I did want to ask you about what we saw yesterday in regards to the Penn State Board of Trustees voting for an improved and upgraded plan for Penn State's Beaver Stadium to have Renovations that plan is going to be extended no more than $700 million to upgrade the facility the picture that went out online which was simply for illustration purposes only according to the Penn State athletic department definitely got people's attention because it looks very modern it looks like a modern futuristic almost NFL style stadium and I think there's a lot of fans that got hung up on that and even people as much as I believe it was Anthony lebronto voted against it Anthony lebronto voted against it because uh he wanted to know quote what that facelift would be and I think that's one of the dumbest things I could possibly hear because if you look at the stadium it doesn't need a facelift it needs a gut job entirely and that this is a wonderful place I have nothing against it I've been going to the stadium since I was in the single digits but this this isn't a facelift thing where you can just leave the bones and everything's fine you and I have talked about maybe this would be a duplicate of what Texas A&M did with Kyle Field and that yes the they maintained the aesthetic the they maintained the face but internally they improved the bones and the the amenity all those sorts of things but it sounds like the plan is to make this Stadium profitable year round potentially and to benefit all 31 Penn State Sports and also the statistic that a Penn State football game generates roughly on average $16 million in Revenue some astonishing numbers uh but it feels like this is long overdue and it's already something that's in progress so to see this added emphasis on it I'm very happy about what was your initial reaction to maybe those illustrations and then the movement all together it's cost of doing business that's how I looked at it I mean that's a lot of money right 700 million but when you talk about what they can get back from its economic impact within State College I mean I don't think I mean that $16 million seems somewhat accurate probably from an economic impact like all around like the time like just in terms of State College internal merch sales food concessions RV parking that's a big you know those are like Prime spots um seat licenses and things of that nature but yeah it becomes a a venue for everything right we just talking about a a country concert yeah put 880,000 people in the stadium in April we gota talk about you know the revenue generation properties so now they got to start looking outside of what's going on we talk about n we talk about just the business of college football yeah the stadium is going to have to be used for other Commerce or commercial purposes so it's a lot of money but I I guess I mean it's the cost of doing business in this space it's just this is what there always been I think the numbers are just kind of coming out to to the to the fan base that's getting being EX for nil money so I think that's where it gets kind of like whoa whoa we're spending money on this we need money for this we need money to be good so I think it's messing with people's brains a little bit but it's a little bit of critical thinking understand the business fundamentals of what's going on and uh it is what it is but I think it's going to be cool to see a concert maybe uh somebody big in there like pretty soon we'll get something uh something new in there maybe a pro wrestling event i' I'd be a big fan of that maybe maybe that would be a great spot to have WrestleMania you know or like uh maybe a NFL game Steelers versus the Eagles you know have them play in stay College just oh I would love that you know I'm a big advocate for the NHL stadium Series so Penguins Flyers makes a ton of sense there like there's a lot of really cool opportunities state championship move the state championship college you know there's opportun opportunity um to wrap up here and speaking of money this is more of a macro story within the world of college football so I know a lot of pen State fans might not necessarily be paying attention to it but uh Georgia transfer quarterback Jaden rashada formerly of Arizona State and formerly before that of the University of Florida rashada is suing members of the University of Florida's football staff including head coach Billy Napier members of the athletic department as well for what appears to be a misleading series of events in his recruitment so essentially if I'm I'm paraphrasing all together is that he was initially committed to go to the University of Miami Florida uh then he flipped to the University of Florida for a 4year deal at roughly $14 million which is a mind-numbing amount of money for a high schooler but still get get your money if you can do it then uh when attending the University of Florida it sounds like a lot of those uh promises within the contract were never upheld and rashada left and went to Arizona State spent a year there and is now at Georgia so big get for Georgia obviously he's a highly touted recruit the fact that you have a player suing individual members of a coaching staff in a high-profile University in SEC college football program program is a huge deal when you read about this what do you think the ripple effect is for college football as a whole uh I don't know if the Ripple would be crazy besides put on notice to where it's like hey you're telling kids that they have a deal or something is in place you have to make sure that the Personnel that's handling it or handling your player relations whether they're members of the collective support staff that they understand the business aren't offering things that you deliver right because a lot of times in in recruiting it's very reactive even from the school side it's reactive oh this player gets this this players offering that you're going back and forth and there's not really many fundamentals in the business set up in nil right now so I think it's just a cautionary tail for like players that are going through get things in writing make sure that there's more than one one person that's like confirming the deals that are getting offered make sure it's within the rules make sure that there's players that are seeing their deal go through while they're at the school there's so many different ways for you to check but then they're just checking the fundamentals of the business if they're going to say they're going to give you $5 million and you're like a three star safety or corner or whatever the case may be and that's just not what the market average is for any player even if they're professional you have to look at it with some skepticism not saying that that's what the deal is here but there's a lot of people offering money whether they're associated with the school connected to a coach or whatever the case may be and so now it just it's another noton AB of to push it towards some level of accountability and um accountability and transparency amongst the process right so that's what that's what I would say and you know LG Sports Group if you guys you're trusted partner through this whole Sports business ecosystem check it out LG Sports group.com but on a on a serious to even though that's really serious it's a it's very confusing in the sports ecosystem when there's money on the line teams are making $16 million for a home game you know kids are coming from lower socioeconomic opportunities you're getting recruited using Lamborghinis agents are recruiting you at 18 19 years old taking you to strip clubs in Miami like it it's very like the ecosystem of sports is much more Dynamic and colorful than the general public understands so good for him pursuing the individual on going through that process put people on notice will he get anything I don't know but it shows that like okay I'm serious and you guys told me this and I'm not going to be put out here to look like I was just stupid for expecting to get this type of money if you told me you're going to give it to me you say it's a business well you guys operate like a business that's always been my grip too with coming from the institution hey this is a business this is a business but we don't always operate upfront like business on that side too so good for him no this can't be some sort of uh mafiosa situation or whatever and it and it makes you think even more about but but but but this is like so when you say that like this can't like this whole industry is a mafiosa type situation so like let's not let's be real clear and critical about that that that's why but that's why you need the regulations that's why you need some sort of collective bargaining agreement to put these things out in the open as opposed to Behind Closed Doors it's been like that for too long yeah yeah I mean guess who's putting the collective bargaining together I mean because not like all the pr you know I mean so we got to still be be care it's it's dark out here man it's a cold world just make make sure you guys get some coat man yeah I don't want to get my legs broken so let's just let's just chill uh let us know what you guys think about all this uh obviously the Rashad case is more of a situation in the grand scheme of college football but can certainly affect Penn State football at some point certainly will uh the Beaver Stadium Renovations it's all Talent acquisition at the end of the day how do you want to get the players so we can pay for stadiums that cost $700 million everybody has different ways at the end of the day $16 million is produced when people are coming to a event put on by college students that is the fundamentals of what we're talking about so when you're acquiring those assets to put on that event that generates $16 million yeah you'll do what you need to do to get the assets you need that's why you check out LG Sports Group that's why Justin knows what he's talking about uh thank you all for joining us again hop in the comments section get at us on social media like comment subscribe turn on notifications and rate US let us know especially what you think about the tailbacks which is what we were discussing in this episode but obviously we've gone into a lot of different directions there's a lot of stuff happening this present week in the world of college football so hang on 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