After four seasons of the legendary running back tandem of Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton, a new era of Penn State football has arrived.
Allen departed as the program’s all-time leading rusher with 4,180 career yards, while Singleton left as the career touchdown leader with 55. Now, the Nittany Lions must rebuild a backfield that has defined their offensive identity for years.
To spearhead this transition, head coach Matt Campbell turned to a familiar face from the transfer portal, alongside an Ohio State transfer and a highly-regarded homegrown talent.
Just like the revamped wide receiver room, this group features a mix of veteran transfer production and exciting internal upside. Here’s a breakdown heading into the fall.
Carson Hansen
While Penn State enters the season without its iconic dual-threat backfield of the past, Hansen is poised to shoulder the load as the clear-cut bell cow this fall.
The senior transfer arrived from Iowa State in January, following Campbell to Happy Valley. The 6-foot-2, 220-pound Minnesota native brings a physical, downhill running style that fits perfectly into the Big Ten.
Hansen’s 2025 campaign with the Cyclones earned him second-team All-Big 12 honors after rushing 188 times for 952 yards (5.1 per carry) and six touchdowns. He finished the season in historic fashion, logging five consecutive 100-yard rushing games, the longest streak by a Cyclone since Breece Hall in 2020.
Highlights included a personal-best 152 yards and two touchdowns against BYU and a 120-yard effort against Kansas. Hansen also showed his utility in the passing game, grabbing 19 receptions for 134 yards in 2025.
With 19 career rushing touchdowns and substantial Power 4 experience, Hansen is ready to take the reins of the offense and handle the bulk of the touches.
James Peoples
Providing the lightning to Hansen’s thunder, James Peoples arrives in State College looking to carve out a major role in the rotation.
A junior transfer out of Ohio State, the 5-foot-10, 210-pound Texas native is a dynamic weapon with elite burst. During his sophomore season in Columbus, Peoples served as an efficient rotational piece, rushing 61 times for 344 yards (5.6 per carry) and three touchdowns.
Peoples flashed his ability in late-season matchups, highlighted by a 42-yard, two-touchdown performance against UCLA and a career-long 49-yard scoring scamper against Rutgers.
He also added 10 receptions for 50 yards out of the backfield. With a blend of speed and a low center of gravity, Peoples provides the Nittany Lions with a change-of-pace back capable of hitting the home-run play on any snap.
Quinton Martin Jr.
Penn State is also expected to utilize an in-house contributor in redshirt sophomore Martin. The former four-star recruit and the top-ranked prospect in Pennsylvania is listed at 6-foot-1, 212-pounds and has the frame and athletic pedigree to become a future starter.
After a quiet regular season, Martin’s 2025 campaign culminated in a brilliant showcase during the Pinstripe Bowl. Against a physical Clemson defense, Martin received a real workload and delivered, rushing a career-high 20 times for 103 yards (5.2 yards per carry) in the 22-10 victory.
According to PFF, Martin forced four missed tackles and generated 60 yards after contact in that game, proving he could handle the physical demands of high-level collegiate defense.
Now entering 2026 with confidence and a taste of success, the in-state product is primed to take the next step and push for consistent reps.
Depth
Beyond the primary trio, depth will be critical to sustaining a high-volume rushing attack. While Hansen, Peoples, and Martin are expected to consume the vast majority of the snaps, look for Cam Wallace to also see the field in cleanup duty.
