ALTOONA, Pa. -- With running back Journey Brown out for an extended period of time due to a medical condition, it will be two sophomores who will handle the workload initially at running back for Penn State as they gear up to play Indiana Saturday afternoon at 3:30 p.m.
"We want to focus all of our energy and love and support on Journey through this," head coach James Franklin said during his weekly press conference Tuesday. "I didn't want to just move on to the other guys without talking about how proud and how much we love and support and appreciate Journey and how much he's grown in our program and think he has a very, very bright future."
Those other guys Franklin mentioned includes Noah Cain who started against Michigan State before an injury knocked him out of the game last season which in turn led to Brown assuming his role as the feature back. Cain rushed for 443-yards on 84 carries as a true freshman in 2019 including two touchdowns in a Cotton Bowl victory over Memphis, a game in which Brown rushed for 202-yards himself.
"I feel like my IQ has come a long way from last year. I feel like my body has changed a lot. I've changed the way I've eaten. I'm from Louisiana, so all I know is big seafood and heavy foods, all that," Cain said during Penn State virtual media day. "But I've changed the way I've eaten a lot so I can be fresh on the field and help sustain my body through the whole season. I just feel like I feel leaner, quicker and faster. I can't wait to show that against Indiana on Oct. 24."
It seems as though it's Cain's job to lose to start the season and he seems to be more than capable of handling the workload associated with being a feature back for Penn State, but he will also be joined by sophomore Devyn Ford.
"We do feel like Noah has the ability to carry the load, and we feel Devyn has a chance to do that as well," Franklin said.
Ford saw playing time in 12 games last season amassing 294-yards on 52 carries as a true freshman in 2019, but has found himself in hot water this off-season following three misdemeanor charges including possession of a controlled substance, having a small amount of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
While the punishment has yet to be announced and will probably not be until game-time or following the game, how the Nittany Lions and Franklin determine the workload for the running back is sure to be impacted.
Behind Cain and Ford sit a pair of true freshmen in Caziah Holmes and Keyvone Lee who will see their workload increase in practices leading up to the game.
"We'll see how close those two young guys are ready to play based on how they prepared for this week," Franklin said. "You'd love to get in the game and see how they do in that setting."
While it remains to be seen how Franklin and company will deploy their backs in Brown's absence, what is known is they not only have options at running back but also shouldn't skip a beat.