UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — You want to see something scary ... ummm .... amazing?
Let's have some fun with numbers.
Saquon Barkley was the NFL's fourth-leading rusher last year, with 1,312 yards. Miles Sanders was one spot behind in fifth, with 1,269 yards.
Barkley and Sanders, two bona fide NFL standouts at the position, played together for two years at Penn State. In 2016, they combined for 1,680 yards rushing (Barkley 1,496 of those), and in 2017, they combined for 1,462 yards (Barkley 1,271).
Last year -- as FRESHMEN! -- Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen combined for 1,928 yards on the ground, with Singleton at 1,061 and Allen 867.
I mean, wow! Even a phenomenal duo such as Barkley -- perhaps the most talented running back in Penn State history -- and Sanders didn't put up numbers close to what a couple of freshmen did. Yes, Sanders was only a freshman himself in 2016, but he had a paltry 184 yards that season, far, far below that of Singleton or Allen.
If you want to talk about just how special this Penn State running back duo could be, all you've got to do is look at the numbers above. Yes, we all know that Singleton and Allen became the first freshmen running back duo in Big Ten history to each top 700 yards, but even that historic stat really isn't even as impressive as the comparison between them and Barkley/Sanders.
"Those type of running backs ... it's like a brotherhood," Singleton said during media day about the Penn State running back tradition.
"It’s a legacy," Allen said. "It means a lot to be a part of this program and playing running back."
OK, so what can Singleton and Allen do in year two to makes us talk about them even more and their potential legacy?
Actually, the more important question is really this one: How will the coaches utilize both talented runners to maximize their skills while also making the offense as dangerous as possible?
Singleton carried 156 times last year, Allen 167.
Will the numbers be split up that evenly again?
Allen actually started a number of games, while Singleton came in as the second running back? Will that continue, or will it switch.
The two running backs were rarely on the field at the same time last season, save for the highly effective T-formation. Will offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich try to get them both in the backfield together?
Allen caught 20 passes out of the backfield a year ago, while Singleton had just 11. Will the plan be to get them both involved more in the passing game -- perhaps even lining one up in the slot on occasion?
The bottom line is, when you've got two young players this talented, the toughest thing might be getting them both enough touches to not only keep them happy, but to make each the most effective.
"My first experience at Penn State was amazing," Singleton said. "It was a crazy season, Rose Bowl champs."
The Lions won the Rose Bowl in part because of this sensational 87-yard TD by Singleton.
Allen didn't have the kind of highlight-reel long scoring runs that Singleton did, but he did have 10 touchdowns, to 12 for his counterpart.
"What I’m looking to most is just getting better, looking for more opportunies that I left out on the field," Allen said.
Both young running backs did a nice job last year of doing everything they could to play the position well, not just run the ball. Allen was a little better blocker than Singleton and, again, caught more passes out of the backfield. Once Singleton gets even better at those things, the sky is the limit, and he could take the next step to superstardom in both college and eventually the NFL.
"Knowing the defenses, knowing where the open man is, the last defender, getting better on my routes, running the ball, blocking, I did all that stuff last year, but I know I can get better at that stuff," Singleton said.
Both running backs were asked to analyze the other.
Singleton said of Allen: "He can do everything this year. There’s things we can work on together. We’re just making each other better. So, just really look out. We’re gonna be having a good season this year."
And Allen said of Singleton: "We make each other better in practice, just telling each other what we did right, what we did wrong. Just competing, doing everything that we can to get better."
Those two already are very good and can only get better. And this year, they're expecting to have an outstanding offensive line to run behind.
Goodness, the thought of what these two could do behind a great line!
"We probably got one of the best O-lines in the country," Allen said, "the way they work and they way they come to work every day, putting their head down, digging in dirt, just getting better."
