Singleton, Allen named to Walker Award watch list

Sophomores are candidates to be nation’s top RB

Penn State sophomores Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen were named Wednesday to the watch list for the Doak Walker Award, presented annually to the nation’s top running back.

The 6-0, 224-pound Singleton, a Gov. Mifflin graduate, rushed for 1,061 yards and 12 touchdowns, a school record for a freshman, last season and was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year. He was voted to the All-Big Ten third team as a running back.

He led the Big Ten and was third nationally with seven runs of at least 40 yards and nine runs of at least 30 yards.

He was selected to several freshman All-America teams.

Singleton earlier was named to the watch lists for the Maxwell Award, presented to the nation’s outstanding player, and the Paul Hornung Award, presented to the nation’s most versatile player.

The 5-11, 221-pound Allen, who grew up in Norfolk, Virginia, and played at IMG Academy in Florida, ran for 867 yards and 10 touchdowns last season and received All-Big Ten honorable mention.

Singleton and Allen became the first freshman teammates in Big Ten history to rush for at least 700 yards. They also became the first Penn State pair to each rush for at least 850 yards in a season.

Also Wednesday, senior Riley Thompson, a transfer from Florida Atlantic, was named to the watch list for the Ray Guy Award, presented to the nation’s top punter.

Earlier this week, Dante Cephas, a transfer from Kent State, was selected to the watch list for the Biletnikoff Award, presented to the nation’s outstanding wide receiver.