Penn State RB Turnover

Penn State opened spring practice with its old backfield gone and three new contenders — Carson Hansen, James Peoples and Quinton Martin Jr. — taking the most important carries. (on3.com) On3 reported Sunday that Hansen, Peoples and Martin are the three Lions “vying to replace” Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton during spring reps. Penn State’s 2026 roster lists Hansen as a senior transfer from Iowa State, Peoples as a junior transfer from Ohio State and Martin as a redshirt sophomore. (on3.com) (gopsusports.com 1) (gopsusports.com 2) (gopsusports.com 3) Allen and Singleton were Penn State’s backfield for four seasons, then moved on to the 2026 National Football League draft cycle after the 2025 season. NFL.com lists both as 2026 draft prospects, and ESPN tracked underclassmen declarations for the draft that begins April 23 in Pittsburgh. (nfl.com) (espn.com) The vacancy is real because Penn State barely used another running back in meaningful regular-season work last year. Martin said Allen and Singleton handled 333 of 344 running back carries through 12 games in 2025 before the bowl game opened touches for everyone else. (247sports.com) That makes spring reps more than a depth-chart exercise. Penn State’s new staff is sorting out who can handle early-down work, pass-game snaps and September carries in an offense that no longer has two established 1,000-yard options. (on3.com) (espn.com) Hansen arrives with the fullest recent résumé. Penn State’s staff announcement in December said he rushed for 950 yards in 2025 at Iowa State, and PennLive reported this month that he narrowly missed a 1,000-yard season and is expected to be a focal point of Penn State’s 2026 offense. (gopsusports.com) (pennlive.com) Peoples brings a different profile: a former Top247 recruit who already has Big Ten experience. Lions247 reported in January that he finished 2025 with 344 rushing yards at 5.6 yards per carry for Ohio State before transferring to Penn State. (247sports.com) (gopsusports.com) Martin is the in-house option with the clearest Penn State tape. In the Dec. 27 Pinstripe Bowl against Clemson, he turned 20 carries into 101 yards after not playing an offensive snap in the 2025 regular season, then said in February that he wants to show he can be the No. 1 back. (247sports.com) The room changed behind them, too. Lions247 reported in January that Cam Wallace, Corey Smith and Jabree Coleman entered the transfer portal, while freshman Tikey Hayes chose to stay. (247sports.com) Penn State also changed coaches. Lions247 reported in January that Stan Drayton left for South Carolina, and On3 reported in February that the Nittany Lions entered 2026 with a new running backs coach and a mix of transfers and returners. (247sports.com) (on3.com) Penn State spent the last four years knowing exactly who its first two backs were. This spring is the first real audition for who gets the ball first when the 2026 season opens. (on3.com)