Nick Singleton expressed his anticipation for the start of Penn State’s spring football practice four weeks ago.
He was eager to return to the field with his teammates and see what new offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki had planned.
Now the former Gov. Mifflin star has a better understanding.
Singleton mentioned that the offense is significantly different, but he is excited about it and believes that everyone else is too. He thinks that Coach K is excellent and the offense is performing well.
Kotelnicki worked at Kansas for three seasons, where their running game was highly successful. Lead back Devin Neal had an impressive season with 1,280 yards and 16 touchdowns.
Singleton's rushing statistics decreased after his freshman 1,000-yard season in 2022. He split playing time with Kaytron Allen, who also had a decent season.
Kotelnicki has been impressed by them both.
He is excited about utilizing Singleton and Allen, recognizing the importance of a strong running back unit for a successful offense.
Kotelnicki believes that a successful offense is capable of effectively running and passing the ball. He uses various strategies to confuse defenses and create opportunities for his best offensive players.
Quarterback Drew Allar believes that Coach K's approach creates opportunities for the players to showcase their abilities as ball-carriers and pass catchers.
He feels that Kotelnicki does a great job of providing opportunities for them to make plays in open space.
Penn State coach James Franklin made a coaching change in the hopes of generating more explosive plays. The team's ranking in this area was poor last year, whereas Kansas excelled in this aspect.
In 2022, Singleton had several impressive runs, but last year, his long runs were limited. Allen also had a good number of long runs.
Kotelnicki refers to Singleton and Allen as 'erasers' because they can turn potential negative plays into positive gains by evading defenders.
He clarifies that their impact may not always result in long touchdown runs, but they can turn zero gains into gains of a few yards by eluding defenders.
Singleton and Allen are expected to play in different positions in the new offensive system. Singleton had a more successful season as a receiver last year, ranking high in all-purpose yards and touchdowns in the Big Ten.
Allen caught 14 passes for 81 yards and scored one touchdown.
Allen said last week that they are learning a new offense and trying different things. Improving as a receiver is a top priority. He thinks the offense is quite good.
Allen and Singleton are expected to play a significant role, just like Neal and running back Daniel Hishaw did at Kansas in the last two seasons.
Singleton mentioned that Coach K informed them that the best players will get the ball. He is enthusiastic about that and feels positive about the plays that Coach K has designed. He can see them being effective.
Coach K has been impressive since arriving on campus. Everyone is enthusiastic about the offense he has implemented. This excitement is evident during practice.
