Michigan Football: Behind enemy lines with a Penn State expert

Freshman Nick Singleton looks every bit the part of the next great Penn State running back. How important is he to this offense?

Alec: Singleton is important because he brings that home run threat to the offense. It’s something this team has been missing since Journey Brown had to retire before the 2020 season. Defenses have to account for Singleton when he’s on the field and that benefits Sean Clifford and the passing game. While Singleton is important, he doesn’t make or break the offense because fellow freshman Kaytron Allen has looked great as well.

Allen is a more physical back and is content with those 4-5 yard runs that keep the clock and chains moving. Junior Keyvone Lee is also a factor thanks to his blocking ability and pass-catching. All three are important and they all complement each other well.

Nick: Singleton has played such a pivotal role in the success of this offense so far, and I don’t expect that to change anytime soon. Though they have very different running styles, he’s similar to Saquon Barkley in the sense that he can score from anywhere on the field. Even if the line isn’t creating holes up front, there’s a good chance he can make something out of nothing and take it the distance.

As I mentioned earlier, don’t overlook Kaytron Allen. The two of them together have been a great 1-2 punch that takes so much pressure off Sean Clifford and the passing game. Their success has particularly allowed the offense to have success off of play action, which I think will be crucial for the Nittany Lions this weekend.