​We’ve reached the end of the Allen/Singleton era in Happy Valley, and it’s time for a new regime. The Nittany Lions will now turn to a blend of familiar faces and fresh talent in their running back room to fill the gaps left by two of the most accomplished rushers in school history. Matt Campbell has also brought in Savon Huggins, who spent the last four years as a rising star at Boston College, to replace Stan Drayton as running backs coach. With plenty of turnover comes plenty of opportunity for players to burst onto the scene and become key contributors. While Iowa State transfer Carson Hansen is likely to take bell-cow duties, the spots behind him are wide open. We’ll walk through a few guys who are candidates to break out and claim that No. 2 spot in 2026.
Quinton Martin Jr. has been a favorite of mine since his days at Belle Vernon, and there may be no better time than the present for him to have a stellar year. Martin had a breakout game in the Pinstripe Bowl, notching 103 yards on 20 carries and impressing in multiple facets. Nagging minor injuries limited him to mostly special teams appearances in 2025, and he didn’t log his first true rushing attempt until the bowl game. Martin has bulked up to 212 pounds, the heaviest he’s been since arriving on campus. If the added weight helps keep him on the field, Martin has the talent to challenge Hansen for carries and become a genuine two-way contributor in the backfield.
On paper, James Peoples is destined to be a star. A four-star prospect from Texas who spent two years in the Ohio State system and has playoff experience? That combination screams breakout potential. Peoples struggled to rise to the top of a crowded depth chart as a Buckeye, but he has a tremendous opportunity to seize the role at Penn State — not only this year but also in the seasons to come. He averaged an impressive 5.6 yards per carry in a limited role last year, scoring three times and totaling 344 rushing yards. He’s incredibly stout, and he excels in pass protection, too. This is a talented running back room, and Penn State should be pleased to have a rotating duo of Peoples and Martin available to keep defenses off balance.
Cam Wallace has long been viewed as a potential breakout candidate, but a season-ending injury in 2024 set him back. He managed just six carries last year, with Penn State leaning on Martin during the Pinstripe Bowl. Yet the Wallace who had nine carries against West Virginia in 2024 remains in there somewhere, promising a comeback narrative if he can regain his form and confidence. When fully healthy, Wallace offers a blend of speed, vision, and burst that can complement the top backs and contribute in a meaningful way throughout the season. The competition among these backs creates depth, flexibility, and a pathway for any one of them to emerge as a consistent playmaker.
As Penn State navigates the post-Allen/Singleton era, the running back room is gearing up to be a strength rather than a concern. The combination of Hansen’s likely lead role with a versatile set of options behind him gives head coach Mike Campbell and the staff the chance to deploy a robust, multi-headed attack. The spring and summer periods will be crucial for these players to refine their zones, reads, and pass-protection schemes so they can contribute on all three downs. The blend of Martin’s speed and physicality, Peoples’ power and balance, Wallace’s explosiveness, and the depth behind them should create a dynamic competition that energizes the offense and keeps defenses guessing. If the group stays healthy and continues to develop chemistry with the quarterback, Penn State’s rushing attack could be more balanced and explosive than in recent years, adding another dimension to the offense that defenses will have to prepare for week in and week out.