At this year’s Senior Bowl practices in Mobile, Alabama, two familiar faces from the Big Ten have been making waves - and if you’ve followed Penn State football over the past few years, you know exactly who we’re talking about. Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen, the dynamic duo known as the “Lawn Boyz,” are showcasing the same one-two punch that terrorized defenses throughout their college careers. Now, they’re looking to parlay that success into a strong showing for NFL scouts - and so far, they’re doing just that.
These practices are all about standing out, and both backs are doing more than just blending in. They’re reminding everyone why they’re two of the most productive rushers in Penn State history. Allen and Singleton aren’t just taking handoffs - they’re taking control of their draft stock, building real momentum heading into Saturday’s Senior Bowl game and the upcoming NFL Combine.
Let’s start with Allen, who’s fresh off the best season of his career. The numbers tell the story: 1,303 yards and 15 touchdowns this year alone, his second consecutive 1,000-yard season.
When it was all said and done, he wrapped up his time in Happy Valley with 4,180 rushing yards and 39 touchdowns - good enough to make him the program’s all-time leading rusher and third in touchdowns. He’s the kind of back who thrives in the trenches - physical, dependable, and built for those tough yards between the tackles.
But here’s the twist - if not for Singleton, Allen might’ve walked away with every rushing record in school history.
Singleton, who holds the Penn State record for career rushing touchdowns with 43, didn’t have his most explosive season yardage-wise, finishing with 543 yards. But don’t let that number fool you - he still found the end zone 13 times this year. And when you zoom out and look at his full body of work over the past two seasons - 1,648 rushing yards, 25 touchdowns, plus 594 receiving yards and six scores through the air - it’s clear he brings a different kind of threat to the table.
Singleton’s game is built on versatility. He can run between the tackles, sure, but he’s at his best when he’s in space - and he might just be the top pass-catching back in this year’s draft class. If you’re an NFL offensive coordinator, you’re already drawing up ways to get him the ball in open field.
What’s just as impressive as their stats, though, is the mutual respect and chemistry these two backs have built. Sharing carries can be a challenge for some players, especially when both are capable of being a feature back. But Singleton made it clear that their partnership was nothing but positive.
“Sharing carries back at Penn State meant a lot to me,” Singleton said during Senior Bowl week. “I was with Kaytron, and he was playing his butt off.
So it’s good for him getting carries and both of us staying healthy going to the next level. We feel good.”
That’s the kind of mindset NFL teams love to see - team-first, mature, and focused on the long game. And it’s part of what makes both Allen and Singleton so appealing as prospects.
Saturday’s game will likely be the last time we see these two in the same backfield. It’s the end of an era for Penn State fans, and the beginning of a new chapter for two backs who are ready to take their talents to Sundays. Whether they hear their names called on Day 2 of the draft or later, one thing’s clear: the Lawn Boyz are ready to mow down the next level.