Penn State Nittany Lions College Football Pregame Quote, 12/26/2024

Q. Something that Coach [Andy] Kotelnicki told us earlier was with the way Drew [Allar] is operating and his input in the game plan week tow eek, it can make it more seamless. When you’re getting opponents thrown your way during the playoffs, you may not have a lot of history and background on them, how big is Drew Allar’s experience and knowing what it takes to deliver a game plan? How important has that become here in the month of December?

TYLER WARREN: It’s very important. Like you said, it’s kind of a lot closer timeframe of being able to plan for different people and stuff like that. So I think really Drew being the player he has so far this season, and our offense being able to just kind of function as focusing on us and doing what we do best and not trying to do too much about specific schemed up stuff, just kind of trusting what we do well as an offense.

It starts with Drew and the way he’s been playing so far. So he’s been doing really good. I know he’ll be ready and prepared for the game and he’ll do great.

NICK SINGLETON: I feel like me and Kaytron, first of all, we’re good friends and great teammates. Stuff he does well on, obviously, he’s a physical runner. If it’s one-on-one, he’s going to run you over. As for me, I try to be more physical too, but I rely really on my speed too. Really fast player.

And as far as comparing with Jeanty, he’s been having an incredible year. We just look forward to playing against him.

Q. From your perspective, how has preparing for game 15 from a physical perspective different from game 1 or game 2? Weight room, being on the practice field, how does that change as you balance keeping your body as fresh as it can be with the numbers of game you played?

NICK SINGLETON: I’m always in the treatment room. Every time you’re hurt, being there, getting in the ice tubs. Taking care of your body most importantly and making sure you eat right. The coaches know, week 15, like you say, everybody is beat up a little bit. The reps went down a little bit, but still doing your job, being more dialed in what we’re trying to do. It’s been really good, man. We’re just ready.

Q. When we talked to Coach K [Andy Kotelnicki], he said he felt that you and Kaytron [Allen] are playing at the highest level you have this year. Would you agree with that? Where exactly does that come from?

NICK SINGLETON: I feel like me and Kaytron are playing at a high level right now, especially these past couple of games. Both having touchdowns, both rushing for good yards. Again, the coaches are taking care of us during practice. The reps are cutting down, full steam, more jog through reps. Me and Kaytron being in the treatment room, taking care of our bodies, just being ready for the games. We’re feeling good.

Q. When you were comparing yourself and Kaytron [Allen], you mentioned you tried to be more physical this year. After Illinois, talked about you being violent last weekend. What has that been like to develop that part of your game? How much of that is mentality versus how much of that is doing things different with your body to be more physical?

NICK SINGLETON: Just trying to be more physical, running people over. If it’s a one-on-one situation, knowing where to go, just picking somebody and running them over. Being that physical back, just adding that to your trait to as a running back, I feel like that’s good for any running back. You can be physical, you can run. All the aspects you have, it just makes you more dangerous, I feel like. I’m still trying to develop that.

Q. You talked about you and Kaytron’s [Allen] success over the last few games. What have you seen from your offensive line? It seems like they’ve played well against good running defenses the last two games.

NICK SINGLETON: It always starts up front. The O-line has been doing a heck of a job throughout the whole year. They’ve always been every day in the treatment room, taking care of their bodies. We just rely on them guys. They always are up for the challenge. Coach Franklin calls them out every time. It always starts up front, D-line and O-line. They always take it personally. The O-line has been really good.

Q. I want to ask you about Stacy Collins, who’s coaching at Boise State now. What do you remember about playing under him and what was he like? Obviously you didn’t spend a ton of time, but you were a kick return under his unit the last couple of years.

NICK SINGLETON: He’s been really good, being that leader on the team for special teams. Setting the tone every time we step on the field. He’s that energy guy. Everybody loves him. Everybody thinks he’s funny. He brings the energy, like I said. He’s been really good. I can’t wait to see him again and go up against him.

Q. Drew [Allar] was telling us day one or day two of spring ball, you guys were repping two minute drills. Tyler [Warren] was saying you guys were all trying to absorb Andy’s [Kotelnicki] offense at that point in time. What do you remember about that and where this offense was; and maybe what were some of the challenges or complications of trying to learn that offense when you look at it now in hindsight?

NICK SINGLETON: He just came in the spring. Learning a new offense obviously is hard. Last year was a different offense, different schemes and all that. But we just stick together. Coach K [Andy Kotelnicki], his schemes were obviously really good. We take pride with that. Just having fun on the field. I feel like you have fun, everything else will take care of itself. Plus Coach K is a big energy guy, brings the energy all the time. I feel like everybody loves him. We talk about situational football really every day. It’s been really good.

Q. I want to ask you about Drew [Allar] and his development at quarterback. Andy [Kotelnicki] talked about the process being pretty seamless each week, because of his experience. Now during the offseason, you’re learning new opponents in a quick amount of time. They’re marquee matchups. How big is it for you to have Drew leading the way right now, and how are you seeing that maybe reflected in daily work?

NICK SINGLETON: Drew has been really good, ever since he stepped on campus. He’s always one of the first coming in, looking at the film. He’s a film junky. He’s been really good. His process has been fantastic. Everybody looks up to him as a leader. And he just brings the energy, too. So Drew has been really good.

Q. Have you had the chance to watch some of the other running backs that have been really dominating throughout this college football season? I think it’s just been a big year for the position as a whole, if you would like to talk about that.

NICK SINGLETON: For sure. Running backs throughout this whole season, everybody has been really good at running back. I feel like everybody has been good. Everybody being that complete back. You’re not just seeing everybody just run. You’re seeing people blocking, catching in the backfield ‚Äì being that complete back. Everybody has been really good. We just got to keep it up.

Q. Ashton [Jeanty] has had a great season, but he hasn’t faced Penn State defense yet. You have. For some of the Boise State people who haven’t seen that defense and a ton of action yet, what can you say about how tricky it is to kind of make ground against them?

NICK SINGLETON: I just say it starts up front. That D-line, you’ve got Zane [Durant], Abdul [Carter], Dani [Dennis- Sutton], Dvon [-JThomas], all those players. They set the tone at practice, too. Even in the games, too, they make big plays, gets our offense going. Especially linebacker, -safety -I- can name everybody on the defense.

But that defense is really good going against them every time, every day. Iron sharpens iron. It makes our offense better, too. I feel good for them coming into this game.

Q. I’m curious about Ashton Jeanty. Is there a relationship there? Have you ever met or chatted or anything like that? When you look at trying to slow a guy like that down -obviously not necessarily your problem to slow him down, but how would you suggest maybe going- about doing that when you have a guy with that much power?

NICK SINGLETON: I haven’t really talked to him. But I see his highlights and what he’s doing on a national stage. He’s a really good player obviously, and just how to slow him down. Obviously, you’ve got to wrap up different opponents they face. Everybody is not wrapping up that tackling, trying to go for the big hit. His vision, his balance is incredible. So a guy like him, you’ve got to wrap him up and tackle him.

Q. We’ve talked a lot about both you and Kaytron [Allen] going really well these past couple of weeks. How differently do defenses have to play your offense when both of you are clicking, as opposed to just one or the other? Do you see any differences there from the defenses?

NICK SINGLETON: I feel like once we start going, they defend us different. Our offense is versatile. You have Drew [Allar] that can run the ball, me and Kaytron, Tyler Warren, receivers, man. You can stop us, but there are obviously other players who are going to be open, too. That makes defense think a little bit.