Penn State takeaways: What we learned from Nittany Lions' easy win against Delaware (2024)

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — The outcome was every bit as lopsided as it was expected to be. No. 7 Penn State dismantled FCS opponent Delaware 63-7 on Saturday. Below are my instant reactions. Read more on Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton here.

• Coach James Franklin said several times during the week that he wants to make sure running back Kaytron Allen is appreciated as much by those outside the program as he is by those in it. In a backfield in which Allen and Nicholas Singleton are viewed as co-starters, Franklin gave Allen the starting nod. In the day and age of the transfer portal, managing egos and emotions is a huge part of the game, too. The fact that Franklin was so outward and direct with his words about Allen surprised me. It also led me to believe the coaches would try to get Allen a deserved start.

• Allen and Singleton again looked good. That’s not new or surprising, but both should enter conference play with a lot of confidence. Allen had 19 carries for 103 yards. He scored from 4 yards out in the first half. He did fumble, but PSU recovered. Singleton had 12 carries for 47 yards. He had rushing touchdowns of 2, 5 and 5 yards in the first half.

Yes, it was an FCS opponent, but this backfield is in great shape. And consider this: Singleton’s longest rush this season is 14 yards. Allen’s is 19. At some point, they’ll rip off those big-time chunk gains that Penn State was so used to seeing last season.

• Two starts, two sharp performances from Drew Allar, who remains turnover-free in a Penn State uniform. Allar completed 22 of 26 passes for 204 yards and had two touchdowns. He added 27 yards on the ground. Penn State scored five touchdowns on five red zone trips in the first half. Allar exited the game with 9:41 left in the third quarter.

• Franklin has been criticized for keeping his starting quarterback in games for too long. This was not one of those instances. It was managed perfectly and played out exactly as I expected.

• One of many things that’s impressing me with Allar is how well he’s spreading the ball around. He threw passes to eight players in the first half. He sees the field so well and doesn’t lock in on any one receiver. The moment that stands out the most is how easily he ran the offense with 1:14 left in the half. There was no panic, which has been a theme with him, too. On that late series in the first half, Allar picked up 13 yards with his legs. He threw to his right to his top target, KeAndre Lambert-Smith, for 16 yards. Allar threw to his left to Harrison Wallace III for 15 yards. A pass interference penalty then set up a 2-yard touchdown pass from Allar to tight end Tyler Warren. That’s one way to go 49 yards in 52 seconds.

• QB Beau Pribula did not wait to showcase his legs. His first series running the offense included a 7-yard run, an 18-yard run and a 6-yard rushing touchdown. It’s this rushing threat that likely makes Pribula so difficult to evaluate in practice. He’s speedy and shifty. I do believe at some point this season we’ll see a Pribula package.

• I wrote in my pregame objectives that Penn State needed to keep building depth at guard, and it did. Vega Ioane started at left guard in place of JB Nelson. It was Ioane’s first career start. This isn’t a reflection on Nelson, who was one of the most impressive players in the season opener. Offensive line coach Phil Trautwein said he believes Nelson is a future NFL prospect. Nelson will be the starter, but in a game like this and with Nelson not being at full health all week, it was the right time to give Ioane an extended shot. Ioane played the entire first quarter with the starters before Nelson entered in the second quarter at his usual starting spot. Ioane then played late in the second quarter, and they rotated. I’m curious to see the snap counts, but by far this was the most extensive action for Ioane ever. At first glance, he appeared to pass the eye test.

• If you’re looking for glimpses of the future, look no further than the offensive line Penn State rolled out late in the second quarter on the Warren touchdown drive. Drew Shelton lined up at left tackle, Ioane at left guard and Nick Dawkins at center. Shelton and Dawkins figure to be starters next year on a roster without Olu Fashanu and Hunter Nourzad.

• In consecutive weeks, Penn State’s use of the T-formation has led to touchdowns for Singleton. Don’t look for that package, which was so good to Penn State last year to go away anytime soon, and it shouldn’t. Until somebody can stop it, keep running it.

• Now for things that shouldn’t continue. Penn State’s run defense was gashed for a 66-yard touchdown by Marcus Yarns. It came with a heavy dose of backups on the field, including Tyler Elsdon. I get that Penn State wants and needs to develop depth across the board, especially in a game like this, but this grouping was exposed. Manny Diaz wants to roll through a lot of players to keep guys fresh, but at what cost?

• Penn State’s first takeaway of the season came in the third quarter on a Keaton Ellis forced fumble that was recovered by KJ Winston. Dom DeLuca added a pick six in the third quarter to get the turnovers rolling.

• A true freshman I’ve heard a lot of good things about this preseason is defensive end Jameial Lyons. He wasn’t in the green-light category initially, but he’s someone who will likely appear in at least four games this season. Lyons delivered the hardest hit of the game with his sack in the third quarter. There was an audible gasp from the crowd.

• Wide receiver Omari Evans, who was listed as questionable again this week, saw the field late in the game and caught a 4-yard touchdown from Pribula. Evans, who worked with the first-team offense in the spring, was working pretty far down the depth chart during warmups.

• Kaden Saunders continued as the punt returner. I keep waiting for him to bust one. But there’s something to be said for having a sure-handed returner back there who has the big-play threat, and he very much is that. I wonder if cornerback Daequan Hardy, who was unavailable for the second game in a row and was wearing a scout team jersey at practice this week, will get a shot as the returner when he next plays.

• I think Penn State found a kicker. Alex Felkins replaced Sander Sahaydak, who missed two field goals against West Virginia. Felkins was perfect on extra points, and PSU did not attempt a field goal in this one. Sahaydak attempted and connected on one extra point in the third quarter. It had to be a feel-good moment for him after the past week.

• Notable absences included Hardy, defensive tackle Coziah Izzard, defensive end Amin Vanover, wide receiver Malick Meiga and wide receiver Tyler Johnson, who were ruled out on the availability report.

(Top photo of Nicholas Singleton, left, celebrating with Olu Fashanu: Scott Taetsch / Getty Images)