With Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton exhausting their eligibility and making way for the NFL, Penn State was always bound to have some churn at running back in 2026.
Thanks to the craziness that has followed a coaching change and Matt Campbell’s work in the transfer portal, that churn has already happened — and appears mostly finalized.
Iowa State transfer Carson Hansen is in for his senior season after going for 100-plus yards in his final five games of 2025. Ohio State transfer James Peoples has committed, searching to unlock his former blue-chip recruit potential.
Quinton Martin Jr. is also returning to the fold after his breakout performance in the Pinstripe Bowl.
Finally, true freshman Tikey Hayes has announced his return, too, to round out a nice corps at the position. State College Area High School standout D’Antae Sheffey has also committed in the 2026 class as a three-star prospect.
More could be potentially be coming via the transfer portal, but this group could walk onto the field tomorrow and have sufficient talent.
So let’s break down what it might look like for the Lawn Boyz in 2026.
The now
The truth is, we may not know exactly what this room looks like when things kick off in the fall. And that’s OK, even if it is a stark departure from the certainty that was Singleton and Allen for four years.
Penn State fans became accustomed to the two-headed monster that the record breakers created. Penn State had a third running back reach 25 carries just twice during the past four years.
By contrast, Iowa State and Campbell did it all four years. The Cyclones, in fact, had a tertiary runner cross 50, 80 and 90 carries in 2022, 2023 and 2024, respectively.
That all came with now-Penn State offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser and offensive line coach Ryan Clanton on staff. Thus, a by-committee approach at running back could be what the Lions are in for.
There likely won’t be an Allen among the 2026 group, someone who takes 25-plus carries each game.
Hansen has the most experience and past production. A big back at 6-foot-2 and 220 pounds, Hansen went for 950 yards last season and has more than 1,700 in his career. The senior also boasts 19 touchdowns on the ground.
Meanwhile, Peoples is perhaps the most intriguing addition for Penn State. The former Buckeye was a top-120 recruit in his class and burned his redshirt as a freshman despite working behind now-NFL backs Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson. However, Peoples fell down the depth chart behind impressive freshman Bo Jackson in 2025, and with the position coach who recruited him no longer at OSU, a move made sense.
And even still, Peoples was productive when on the field. The soon-to-be junior collected 541 yards over the past two years with five touchdowns on a strong 4.9-yard-per-rush rate. His ceiling is fascinating for the Nittany Lions.
Finally, but not to be forgotten about, Martin comes back to Penn State off of his 100-yard outburst in the Pinstripe Bowl. We still don’t know much about his talents, but he showed flashes of greatness in his first true shot at extended action.
Martin is a slasher and has skills as a receiver that could help him carve out a role this fall.
Penn State has also reportedly hosted FCS All-American L.J. Phillips and ex-Michigan State back Makhi Frazier on transfer visits, both high-production players who could contribute if added.
All told, the running back room in 2026 is easily one of the most unknown groups for the Nittany Lions. It could play out in several different ways. But there’s also a high floor of talent with an even higher ceiling.
The future
Hansen is the lone member of the group who is done after this coming season.
Peoples has two remaining years of eligibility. Martin has three. Frazier and Phillips, if added, also have two more years.
This position’s outlook is much different than that of quarterback, for example, where Rocco Becht is set to start this season with little certainty behind him.
We also haven’t spent any time talking about the rising redshirt freshman Hayes, who had an illustrious career at Aliquippa before minimal involvement in his debut year. He took three carries for 18 yards in the Pinstripe Bowl behind Martin.
While Sheffey’s an unfinished product, he had a fantastic career with the Little Lions and will supplement the younger portion of the position.
Suffice to say, there’s plenty of upside at running back moving forward for Penn State, and it’s easily one of the deepest positions thus far as the 2026 roster continues to fill out.