Terry Smith’s Promise, Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton’s Legacy: How Penn State’s Backfield Made History
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - When Terry Smith stepped into the interim head coach role at Penn State, he didn’t waste time setting the tone. He brought running backs Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen into his office with a clear message: “I’m going to get you those records.”
He wasn’t bluffing.
Fast forward to the regular-season finale - a wild 40-36 win over Rutgers - and both backs walked off the field as record-breakers. Singleton shattered three of Saquon Barkley’s career marks, while Allen became the first running back in Penn State history to eclipse 4,000 rushing yards.
“It meant a lot,” Allen said of that initial meeting with Smith. “When you have a coach that believes in you and pulls you in the office and says that, it means a lot. It makes you want to go for him.”
Allen responded with a career-high 226 rushing yards against the Scarlet Knights, capping off a stretch that’s arguably the best of his career. One week earlier, he’d already broken Evan Royster’s all-time rushing record. Now, Allen sits atop the Penn State leaderboard with 4,180 career rushing yards.
Singleton, meanwhile, did more than just find the end zone - he made history doing it. His two rushing touchdowns brought his career total to 45, breaking Barkley’s program record. He also set the school mark for total touchdowns (55) and racked up 183 all-purpose yards, pushing his career total to 5,586 - another Barkley record, now his.
The Smith Effect: A Shift in the Backfield
Since Smith took over, the distribution of carries - and the production that followed - has looked very different. Allen has become the workhorse, averaging 23.3 carries and 139 yards per game in Smith’s six games at the helm. That’s a major jump from the 11.7 carries and 78 yards per game he averaged in the first half of the season under James Franklin.
The results speak for themselves. Allen has posted 140+ rushing yards in four of his last six games. He’s not just producing more - he’s doing it with consistency and power.
Singleton’s resurgence has been just as noticeable. He’s scored five touchdowns over the last four games and has looked like a different back - sharper vision, more burst, and a level of explosiveness we hadn’t seen since his breakout freshman year. His 183 all-purpose yards at Rutgers were a season high, and more importantly, they came when the team needed them most.
“Yeah, [Smith’s promise] meant a lot to me and [Allen],” Singleton said. “Coach Terry is our guy.
He's been there for us these last four years too, building our relationship with him. So him telling us that, we believed it and we just bought into it.”
A Rare Bond in the Backfield
In today’s college football landscape - with the transfer portal always just a click away - it’s rare to see two elite backs stick it out in the same backfield for four seasons. But Allen and Singleton did just that. They split carries, shared the spotlight, and pushed each other to new heights.
“One of them could have transferred. One of them could have gone somewhere and been the guy,” Smith said. “For them to stay with us speaks volumes about Penn State.”
It also says plenty about their relationship. Roommates, teammates, and competitors - Allen and Singleton have built something special.
They’ve leaned on each other through coaching changes, tough losses, and a season that didn’t meet expectations. And in the end, they helped write a new chapter in Penn State’s storied football history.
“I couldn't do it without him. I'm glad he was here with me on this journey,” Allen said.
“Pushing each other makes me better. Whenever you’ve got somebody in the room with you, competing a lot, it makes you better and keeps you going.
That's my dog.”
Singleton echoed the sentiment.
“We’ve been through a lot, just me and Fat. We stuck together,” he said.
“Every week we fought. He's cool; he ran for over 200 yards, which was crazy.
It just meant a lot for me and him. So I'm just proud of him.”
Iron Sharpens Iron
The mutual respect between the two backs is more than just talk. They’ve studied each other’s games, borrowed strengths, and used their friendly rivalry as fuel.
Singleton said he’s tried to adopt Allen’s patience and vision. “It’s obvious.
It’s crazy,” he said. “Everybody can say that, too.
But, Kaytron, he's been my guy. We both made each other better.
He made me better every day, just competing with him. So that's my guy.”
Allen, in turn, has leaned on Singleton’s resilience. Together, they’ve not only grown as players - they’ve helped redefine what a two-back system can look like when built on trust, competition, and belief.
They arrived at Penn State with high expectations. They leave with records, legacy, and a bond that goes beyond the field.