Running Back:
- Zach Zwinak OR
- Bill Belton
- Akeel Lynch
- Nick Scott OR
- Johnathan Thomas
Returning Players:
Zach Zwinak: Zach Zwinak came into his junior season garnering high expectations after managing a 1,000 yard season as a sophomore. However, Zwinak experienced a very up and down season. He started the year with modest yardage but a bevy of touchdowns. Yet, partway through the season he was benched as a result of a series of very costly fumbles. During that stretch, fellow Junior Bill Belton took the reigns. After several games with a lesser workload, he reemerged, now donning running back gloves, to finish the season off with 4 straight 100 yard games, including two 149-yarders and a 150-yarder.
Bill Belton: After starting the season opener in 2012, Bill Belton has had a bit of a roller-coaster ride at PSU. With the emergence of Zach Zwinak, Belton has been pushed out of the "every down back" spot and primarily into change-of-pace role. But with fumbling problems forcing Zwinak in and out of the lineup, Penn State fans have seen the shifty back produce some great games, primarily a 36 carry 200 yard performance this past year against Illinois. With Zwinak reemerging as the starter down the stretch of the 2013 season, he could get the bulk of the first down carries, but don't be surprised to see Belton get between 10-15 carries a game. Belton and Zwinak complement each other very well, so I expect to see a fair mix between the two to start the season. With a new regime, we could see either as the starter in Ireland.
Akeel Lynch: Akeel Lynch is a player that is very popular among Nittany Lion fans despite limited action. Lynch received very positive reviews by O'Brien's staff in his redshirt year, and he looked very impressive in the non-conference season this past year. Once the conference season came around, playing time was hard to come by. Many people believe that the staff was simply not yet comfortable enough with his pass protection ability to give him a consistent workload. However, in games against Eastern Michigan (13 car., 108 yds.) and Kent State (14 car., 123 yds.) he showed what he's already capable of as a runner. Time will still be tough to come by, but with a new staff it will be interesting to see how much time Akeel Lynch is able to earn.
Newcomers:
Nick Scott: Nick Scott is an intriguing prospect. Scott had an extremely impressive senior season, as evidenced by his selection to the Washington Post's first team All-Met team. He is an extremely versatile athlete, considering he played QB, RB, LB, and even occasionally put his hand in the dirt and rushed off the edge for his high school team this year. While Scott is expected to enter his freshman season as a RB, there is always a chance we could see him in a different role, such as Safety, later on. This seems unlikely right now, especially with how talented he is as a runner. But, with several highly ranked RBs considering PSU in the class of 2015, it is possible PSU will find themselves with a surplus of talented runners in the coming years. However, Scott has adequate size and impressive speed and vision, so he has the ability to be a very successful RB at Penn State.
Mark Allen: Mark Allen, Penn State's fist commit for the class of 2014, could be used in a very unique role at Penn State. Some think that Bill O'Brien recruited him to fill a Danny Woodhead "do-it-all" type role with the team. At 5'7", he is a very small player, but he possesses tremendous speed. He is, as James Franklin said at "The Signature Event," a home run threat every time he touches the ball. He doesn't possess the size to be an every-down back, but could excel as a change of pace back that is capable of catching passes out of the backfield. Allen saw the offseason after his junior year derailed by an ACL injury that plagued him all the way up through his senior year, so he was not able to play as much as he would have liked in his final high school campaign. This makes Allen more of a mystery than many of Penn State's other recruits.
Key Question Marks Heading Into Spring Practice:
Kyle: I think, first of all, what everyone is interested in seeing is who is going to start. Zwinak and Belton both received several starts last year, and are successful, but very different, runners. At the same time, Franklin has mentioned that no starting spot is guaranteed. Theoretically, this leaves the door open for the talented Lynch to garner major playing time. We don't know much about Franklin's preferences, but it is worth noting that his starting RB last year at Vanderbilt was built much more like Bill Belton, coming in at only 5'7", 200 lbs. This battle will undoubtedly be one of the more interesting story lines at Spring Practice.
Brian:
While the starting position is the biggest question mark going into spring practice, I am interested in seeing what creative ways Franklin and his staff will attempt to utilize all the running backs. During 2011, many fans may recall Belton being used in wildcat formations, specifically during the Ohio State game. Could we see the wildcat with Belton make a return to Beaver Stadium? I also wouldn't be surprised to see Belton used as a receiving option due to his quickness and agility, especially considering his prior experience as a slot WR. With that being said, it is quite possible we could see either Zwinak, Belton or Lynch start in Ireland, but all three backs will see the field, due to their ability to change the game in different ways.
Summary: Running Back is a position of strength for the Nittany Lions heading into 2014. Zwinak is a tough back that can wear down the opponent, Belton is quick and versatile, and Lynch is an exceptional runner. How this will all be sorted out will be a central issue during spring practice. Where the young guys fit in will be a more prevalent issue by the Summer/Fall. For now, though, this is a position that Franklin and staff will heavily utilize in the coming year.
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