Running backs Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen, who have combined to rush for more than 5,800 yards, will return to Penn State for the 2025 season, they announced Monday within minutes of each other on social media.
Their decisions came after quarterback Drew Allar, safety Zakee Wheatley, defensive tackle Zane Durant and linebacker Dominic DeLuca announced earlier that they will return to the Nittany Lions next season.
The 2025 plans for center Nick Dawkins, defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton and linebacker Kobe King have yet to be finalized.
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“The best duo in the country is back for Year 4,” running backs coach Ja’Juan Seider posted. “Let’s go make history, fellas.”
A former high school star at Gov. Mifflin, Singleton was the second-leading rusher this season for Penn State with 1,099 yards and 12 touchdowns and the third-leading receiver with 41 receptions for 375 yards and five TDs.
“We have accomplished a lot here,” Singleton wrote in his post. “And we took another big step forward this season. But we know we are capable of being even better.
“After discussing my football future with my family, I have decided to return to Penn State for the 2025 season. We still have goals we want to reach as a team. I want to be alongside my teammates as we reach those goals.”
He capped his junior season by carrying 15 times for 84 yards and three touchdowns in the Lions’ 27-24 loss to Notre Dame last Thursday in a College Football Playoff semifinal at the Orange Bowl. His three rushing TDs tied an Orange Bowl record.
He also caught two passes for 33 yards and returned a kickoff for 21 yards, giving him a game-high 138 all-purpose yards.
While splitting time with Allen, he ranks 13th nationally with 6.4 yards per carry, is tied for 16th with 17 touchdowns and ranks 20th in all-purpose yards with 120.3 per game.
Singleton has enjoyed an outstanding career at Penn State after being named the Gatorade National High School Football Player of the Year in 2021 following his record-setting career at Mifflin.
He rushed for 1,061 yards and 12 touchdowns as a freshman in 2022, caught 11 passes for 85 yards and one TD and returned 14 kickoffs for a 24.9 average and one TD.
As a Lions sophomore, Singleton ran for 752 yards and eight TDs, made 26 catches for 308 yards and two TDs and returned 13 kickoffs for a 24.1 average.
With 2,912 career rushing yards, he ranks 10th at Penn State and needs 1,021 yards to pass Evan Royster as the school’s all-time leading rusher. He also has 41 career touchdowns, tying Lydell Mitchell for second with the Lions.
Singleton has 32 career rushing touchdowns, ranking fifth all-time at Penn State. With his three scores in the Orange Bowl, he moved past John Cappelletti, Richie Anderson, Evan Royster. Charlie Pittman and Trace McSorley.
Allen also was a member of Penn State’s 2022 recruiting class. He rushed for 867 yards and 10 touchdowns as a freshman that year and followed it by running for 902 yards and six TDs in 2023.
This season, he had 1,108 rushing yards and eight TDs, joining Singleton as the first pair of Penn State backs to top 1,000 yards in the same season.
“I have learned so much about football and life from being a part of this elite organization that Coach (James) Franklin leads,” Allen posted. “Going to work with Coach Seider and the ‘Lawnboyz’ every day is something I will cherish forever.”
Late Monday afternoon, defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton, another member of the 2022 recruiting class, announced that he also will return for the 2025 season.
Dennis-Sutton had 16 tackles, six tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks in three CFP games against SMU, Boise State and Notre Dame. He made a spectacular leaping interception in the Orange Bowl.