Kaytron Allen RB Penn State | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Kaytron Allen RB Penn State
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| ROLE: Work-Horse Back | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 05/12/2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 4.55 seconds (54%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Age: 22.4 DOB: 01/09/2003 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| ROLE: Work-Horse Back | |
| Last Updated: 05/12/2025 | |
| Draft Year: 2026 | |
| 40 time: 4.55 seconds (54%*) | |
| Age: 22.4 DOB: 01/09/2003 | |
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| Overall Rating: | 84.2 / 100 | |
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| Average rating of opposition Defense player has faced | ||
| Defense Rating: |
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77% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Rushing: |
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89% |
| Break Tackles: |
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71% |
| Receiving/Hands: |
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54% |
| Pass Blocking: |
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54% |
| Run Blocking: |
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57% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
3rd
Overall Rank:
#97
Position rank:
#4
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| College Games: 41 College Snaps: 1374 | ||
ESPN RATING: 83/100
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247 RATING: 93/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.9 (97%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sean Tucker - Syracuse |
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78% |
| Brian Robinson Jr. - Alabama |
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76% |
| DeWayne McBride - UAB |
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75% |
Draft Profile: Bio
The "Fatman"—a nickname Allen has embraced since his high school days—arrived at Penn State in 2022 as one part of a dynamic freshman duo alongside Nicholas Singleton. Despite sharing the spotlight and backfield responsibilities throughout his career, Allen has carved out his own identity as a punishing, downhill runner with exceptional vision. The Norfolk, Virginia native took a unique path to Happy Valley, transferring to IMG Academy after a standout freshman campaign at Norview High School where he rushed for 1,465 yards and 16 touchdowns. At IMG, Allen continued his dominance, accumulating over 3,000 yards and 42 touchdowns in three seasons for the national powerhouse program.He's ascended Penn State's record books, ranking ninth all-time in rushing attempts (559), 11th in rushing yardage (2,877) and tied for 15th in rushing touchdowns (24). His junior season marked his most productive, eclipsing the 1,000-yard mark with 1,108 yards while maintaining an efficient 5.1 yards per carry and finding the end zone 10 times (8 rushing, 2 receiving). Allen and Singleton became the first Penn State duo to each rush for 1,000 yards in a season, showcasing Allen's ability to produce even while sharing carries—something that should translate well to the NFL's committee-heavy approach.
The 5'11", 229-pound back has maintained remarkable durability, appearing in all 41 games during his Penn State career while gradually increasing his production each season. His decision to return for his senior season alongside Singleton, Allar, and other key defenders signaled his commitment to bringing a championship to Happy Valley while also refining his game for the NFL level. With another productive season, Allen could cement himself as one of Penn State's all-time great running backs and position himself as one of the top power backs in the 2026 NFL Draft class.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Shows exceptional patience behind the line of scrimmage, allowing blocks to develop before hitting holes with decisive one-cut ability that maximizes yardage potential.
- Built with a thick, powerful lower half that generates substantial drive through contact, routinely pushing piles forward and falling forward for extra yardage when wrapped up.
- Runs with outstanding leverage and pad level, presenting minimal surface area to defenders while maintaining balance through glancing contact.
- Demonstrates elite vision when navigating traffic, instinctively finding cutback lanes and exploiting defensive over-pursuit with subtle shifts in running tracks.
- Possesses impressive burst through the line of scrimmage that belies his size, getting to the second level quickly before defenders can react.
- Shows surprising lateral agility in tight spaces, making compact jump cuts without losing momentum or sacrificing north-south orientation.
- Maintains exceptional ball security with high-and-tight carrying technique, cradling the football through traffic and contact situations.
- Thrives in short-yardage and goal-line situations, showing the vision to find microscopic creases and power to convert in congested areas.
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Lacks the true breakaway speed to consistently threaten home run plays, getting caught from behind on longer runs when he reaches the third level.
- Needs significant development as a receiver, showing adequate hands but limited route sophistication and creativity in space after the catch.
- Pass protection technique remains inconsistent despite willing engagement, occasionally lowering his head and losing sight of blitzers.
- Could improve stamina for bell-cow workload, as effectiveness sometimes wanes when carries exceed 15-18 in a single game.
- Limited creativity in the open field to make defenders miss with advanced moves, relying primarily on power rather than elusiveness.
Scouting Report: Summary
Allen delivers as a decisive downhill hammer with enough juice to punish defenses between the tackles. He'll immediately shore up short-yardage and goal-line packages at the next level, where his vision to identify microscopic creases and power to finish runs separate him from other power backs. The experience operating effectively in a timeshare speaks volumes about his NFL readiness—modern backfields require this exact mentality.Despite possessing natural running instincts and exceptional contact balance, limitations as a pass-catcher will restrict his third-down value initially. His adequate but unrefined pass protection further complicates matters, though his willingness to engage blitzers provides reason for optimism. While lacking the home-run speed many teams covet, Allen compensates with subtle lateral agility and consistent forward momentum that wears down defenses over four quarters.
The Penn State bruiser brings the mentality of a grinder who takes pride in the dirty work—moving the chains, converting third-and-shorts, and softening defensive fronts. His ceiling might fall short of feature-back territory due to receiving limitations and stamina questions, but Allen's rock-solid floor and proven production make him a safe bet to contribute 15+ productive carries weekly from day one. Teams featuring zone-blocking schemes should particularly value his one-cut decisiveness, though he's scheme-versatile enough to thrive in multiple systems with proper utilization.
How other scouting services rate Kaytron Allen (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
81.8
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
4.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.