STATE COLLEGE − Penn State football will be led, once again, by their two potentially record-setting running backs.
But who can play the position Saturday night against Nebraska, if needed, behind Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton?
Suddenly, the Nittany Lions‘ running back depth is thinner than its been all season. The Lions will miss backup tailbacks Corey Smith, Quinton Martin, Jr., Tikey Hayes and Jabree Coleman. All are listed as “out” for the game on weekly Big Ten pregame availability report.
The lone scholarship running back available behind Allen and Singleton is redshirt sophomore Cam Wallace. And he’s played in only three games this season after coming back from a severe injury in 2024. He’s carried just six times this fall for 25 yards.
Of course, Allen and Singleton have been there for the duration each week so far this season. Allen is only 139 yards away from breaking Evan Royster’s Penn State career rushing record of 3,932. Singleton is only three touchdowns away from breaking Saquon Barkley school record for career rushing touchdown (41) and career total touchdowns (51).
Penn State also will miss backup quarterback Jaxon Smolik for a fourth straight game due to injury. That means either true freshman Bekkem Kritza, who has never played a snap in college, or senior receiver Liam Clifford will back up starter Ethan Grunkemeyer.
Meanwhile, Penn State also will be without true freshman defensive end Chaz Coleman for the third straight week and backup safety Antoine Belgrave-Shorter for the second.
Frank Bodani covers Penn State football for the York Daily Record and USA Today Network. Contact him at fbodani@ydr.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @YDRPennState.
This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Penn State football running back depth thin vs Nebraska in Big Ten
