James Franklin, Devyn Ford speak to physical transformation for freshman RB Kaytron Allen
Size matters. Never let anyone tell you otherwise.
Take for instance the frame of Penn State running back Kaytron Allen. Nicknamed by teammates “Fatman” due to his 225-pound frame, Allen’s size likely limited his reps early in camp.
That’s not the case anymore. After leaving IMG Academy in Bradenton (Fla.) to enroll early, Allen made sure to shed the weight before the start of the new season. Working with the school’s nutritional specialists, Allen shed nearly 25 pounds, coming in at 201 to begin the new season.
Penn State coach James Franklin has been pleased with Allen’s transformation, but the nickname isn’t leaving. Fatman will live on at State College moving into conference play. Perhaps it’s how he becomes a legend in the making?
James Franklin on Kaytron Allen:
"Coming froma program like IMG, he understood how to compete in the backfield for carries and playing a national schedule … He's probably changed his body as much as anybody in our program."
Allen has lost more than 20 pounds at Penn State
— Collegian Football (@psufootblog) September 20, 2022
“I was kidding around about his nickname, Fatman,” Franklin told reporters earlier this week. “He’s less and less of his nickname.”
Allen certainly doesn’t move as his nickname would suggest. He’s looked agile, quick, and has a certain burst to his game when running between the tackles. It’s been evident on more than one occasion that Allen has emerged as more of a “lightning” style player compared to the “thunder” persona that initially was used to describe him opposite freshman Nick Singleton.
Through 3 games this season, Allen has rushed for 106 yards off 23 carries and has scored 2 touchdowns. Last week on the road against Auburn, Allen scored on a 3-yard run in the closing minutes of the second quarter, and a 6-yard run in the third quarter.
James Franklin said Fr. RB Kaytron “Fatman” Allen has “changed his body as much anybody” in the program, but that shouldn’t kill his nickname.
“We called him Fatman for a reason when he got here, but we still call him Fatman,” Devyn Ford said. “He lost like what, 10 lbs?”
— Seth Engle (@bigsengtweets) September 21, 2022
“I mean, we called him Fatman for a reason when he got here,” senior running back Devyn Ford said. “But we still call him Fatman. He lost like, what, 10 pounds?”
The Nittany Lions return to Beaver Stadium Saturday to take on Central Michigan at noon E.T.