Top 5 Explosive Penn State Running Backs of All Time

© David Reginek-USA TODAY Sports

As Penn State enters its 138th season playing football, the Nittany Lions have had an array of explosive running backs over the years. One of them, who will be playing this season, Nicholas Singleton, was one of 80 players selected to be on the Maxwell Award Watch List. Singleton's big-play ability got him recognized by the Maxwell Football Club, but where does he rank amongst all Nittany Lion running backs?

No. 5: Nicholas Singleton

When I first saw Singleton as a true freshman against Ohio, I was blown away at the breakaway speed Singleton had on his 70-yard and 44-yard touchdown runs to cap a day where he went for 179 yards on 10 carries. While it is easy to get carried away with that sort of performance, it was against a Mid-American Conference team.

The test the following week against Auburn solidified for me that Singleton would be special. On a 54-yard touchdown run Penn State demonstrated it was superior in every aspect, delivering Auburn a 41-12 defeat. It was their worst defeat in an out-of-conference game in Jordan-Hare Stadium since 1982 when Nebraska won 41-7.

Singleton’s highlights also include the third-longest run (87 yards) in Rose Bowl history against Utah in the 2023. Singleton is one of three Penn State running backs to rush for more than 1,000 yards as a freshman, joining Saquon Barkley and DJ Dozier in that elite club.

No. 4: Ki-Jana Carter

The Rose Bowl has been home to many iconic runs in Penn State history, whether it was Singleton’s 87-yard trot in 2023 Rose Bowl, Barkley’s 2017 Rose Bowl run that gave Penn State a lead in the second half on a Barry Sanders-eque run. To me, no Rose Bowl run will ever live up to Carter’s 1995 Rose Bowl touchdown run on Penn State’s first play from scrimmage.

On a play where most of the Penn State offensive line missed their blocks, Carter’s combined physical and explosive attributes shined for a 83-yard touchdown. Throughout 1994, Carter averaged 7.8 yards per carry, and his 23 rushing touchdowns on the season only trail Lydell Mitchell’s school record of 26 in 1971.

No. 3: Lenny Moore

No list is complete about all-time running backs at Penn State without mentioning Moore. “The Reading Rocket,” as he became known, was the first Penn State running back ever to gain more than 1,000 yards in a single season and finished second nationally in 1954. Moore was a two-time second team All-American. The only reason Moore was blocked from achieving first-team status was Heisman Trophy winner Howard “Hopalong” Cassidy from Ohio State and “The Immortal” Jim Brown from Syracuse.

One of the greatest duels I have had the privilege of watching on film was of the 1954 clash Brown and Moore had, and it lived up to the hype. Brown was an ultimate  warrior that day for Syracuse when he finished with 159 yards, 3 touchdowns on 20 carries, recorded an interception, kicked two extra-points, and had 95 kickoff return yards. Moore was able to counter with 146 rushing yards on 22 carries with a touchdown as Penn State edged Syracuse by a final score of 21-20. When Moore finished his illustrious career at Penn State he was the school's leader in rushing yards and all-purpose yards.

No. 2: Curt Warner

Personally I feel Warner is the greatest running back Penn State ever had. Grant you, he doesn’t have the Heisman or the other awards that would make it visibly easy. Warner was a two-time All-American and was only the second Penn State running back to ever have back-to-back 1,000 yard seasons (John Cappelletti in 1972 and 1973). To me, two factors give Warner the nod as the No. 2 greatest back—Warner’s explosive ability was something extremely unique to the Nittany faithful and Warner’s ability to play big in the biggest moments.

Warner was able to go toe-to-toe with three different Heisman Trophy winners during his time at Penn State against Nebraska’s Mike Rozier, USC's  Marcus Allen and Georgia’s Herschel Walker, in what was at the time the sixth No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup in bowl history. What made Warner extremely special was his explosive ability when he pivoted. It seemed Warner, when he had the ball, possessed the vision that if the hole shifted, he was able to process it and accelerate to the next destination. To be honest, I haven’t seen it from a Penn State running back before or since.

No. 1: Saquon Barkley

I really wanted to make Warner No. 1. Warner was a 10 out of 10 in explosiveness as a running back in those situations. Where Barkley distinguishes himself is that he was a 10 out of 10 in running situations in explosiveness. When Penn State lined him up as a receiver, he had a full-blown route tree. Barkley’s ability on wheel routes was something to be behold. While Warner was a dangerous returner, Barkley put fear into the opposition when coach James Franklin had him back to return.

While Barkley’s style could be extremely frustrating, Barkley was unapologetic for seeking out the home run. Barkley was physically the most gifted I ever saw at Penn State. His weight room exploits were something to behold. On the field, I felt there was nothing he couldn’t do. I feel personally that Barkley's ability to leap led others to do it. When you gave Barkley daylight, it was over. I think of the Rose Bowl touchdown against USC, and the 92-yard run in the Fiesta Bowl where it seemed Barkley—mid stride—down-shifted and was still burning past the trailing defenders. For me, Barkley’s ability to be explosive in every facet a back can be utilized is why he is my top pick for most explosive Penn State running back.

Best of the Rest

Blair Thomas

Thomas was the explosiveness behind Dozier on Penn State's 1986 National Championship team. Thomas' signature run was the 92-yard run against Syracuse—the longest non-scoring rushing play in Penn State history. Thomas is in a three-way tie for the second most 100-yard games in Penn State with 17.

Lydell Mitchell

He was the home run complement to the power and speed that future NFL Hall of Famer Franco Harris. In Mitchell's 1971 season he seemingly had his way with opposing defenses when he averaged 6.2 yards per game and had 29 total touchdowns—a record that stood until Oklahoma State's Sanders broke it in 1988.

John Cappelletti

Penn State's lone Heisman Trophy winner and his No. 22 is retired forever in Penn State lure. Cappelletti was the first Penn State running to have consecutive 1,000 yard seasons, and even more impressive, had three consecutive 200-plus rushing yard performances in November to seal the Heisman Trophy in 1973.