Kaytron Allen’s rise at Penn State has been nothing short of remarkable, and now the senior running back is getting national recognition to match the numbers he’s been putting up.
Allen was named to the 2025 AFCA FBS Coaches’ All-America Team as a second-team selection - a well-earned honor after a season where he was the engine of the Nittany Lions’ offense. The AFCA is one of five All-America teams officially recognized by the NCAA, alongside Walter Camp, the Associated Press, The Sporting News, and the Football Writers Association of America.
This isn’t Allen’s only postseason accolade. He also landed on the AP’s All-America third team, while offensive lineman Vega Ioane - a redshirt junior who’s declared for the 2026 NFL Draft - earned second-team nods from both the AP and Walter Camp. Interestingly, Ioane didn’t make the AFCA list, but his impact on Penn State’s offensive front this season was undeniable.
For Allen, this All-America recognition is another milestone in a career that’s already left its mark on the Penn State record books. He becomes the 159th individual Nittany Lion to earn All-America honors and the 193rd overall selection in program history - a testament to both his consistency and the legacy he’s helped build in Happy Valley.
Let’s talk numbers, because Allen’s season was as productive as it was explosive. He racked up 1,303 rushing yards on 210 carries, scoring 15 touchdowns along the way.
That’s the kind of workload and production that not only wears down defenses but also sets the tone for an entire offense. And when Penn State needed a spark late in the year, Allen delivered - big time.
Under interim head coach Terry Smith, Allen became the focal point of the offense down the stretch, and he responded with a blistering three-game run to close out the regular season. Over that stretch, he carried the ball 72 times for 567 yards - averaging an eye-popping 7.9 yards per carry - and found the end zone five times. He capped that run with a career-best 226-yard performance in a 40-36 road win over Rutgers, a game that not only sealed bowl eligibility but also showcased Allen at his absolute best.
That late-season surge earned him at least a share of Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honors three weeks in a row - a rare feat that underscored just how dominant he was when it mattered most.
Allen has accepted an invitation to the Senior Bowl, a clear sign that NFL scouts are paying close attention. As for the upcoming Pinstripe Bowl matchup against Clemson on December 27 at Yankee Stadium, Allen hasn’t officially announced whether he’ll suit up - but if that Rutgers game ends up being his Penn State finale, it was one heck of a curtain call.
And what a career it’s been. Allen leaves as Penn State’s all-time leading rusher with 4,180 yards - the first Nittany Lion to cross the 4,000-yard mark and just the 23rd player in Big Ten history to do it.
He also holds the school record for career carries (769) and ranks third in rushing touchdowns (39). What makes those numbers even more impressive is that he did it all while sharing the backfield with fellow standout Nick Singleton over four seasons.
Allen came to Penn State as a four-star recruit out of IMG Academy in Florida, rated as one of the top running backs in the country in the 2022 class. Originally from Norfolk, Virginia, he brought a physical, downhill style that translated immediately at the college level - and now, he's poised to take that game to the next stage.
Penn State’s season isn’t over yet, with a high-profile bowl game still on the schedule. But no matter what happens in the Bronx, Kaytron Allen’s legacy in blue and white is already secure.