Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

NFL Draft 2026: Penn State RB Kayton Allen could be ultimate value of this year’s class

Originally posted on Gridiron Heroics | By Matt Lombardo | Last updated Mar 19, 2026 2:55 PM ET

Finding value in the NFL Draft is one of the top responsibilities for general managers across the league, and this spring is no different.

For teams looking for running back help, there are plenty of options beyond Notre Dame standout Jeremiyah Love, who might be a top-five selection and is assured to be the first player at the position to hear his name called at the posituion during the NFL Draft, next month.

NFL Draft 2026: Kaytron Allen, the ultimate value at RB

Former Penn State running back Kaytron Allen has largely flown under the radar this offseason, but Pro Football Focus suggests he might be one of the best ‘value’ selections in the entire class.

“In 2025, Allen carried the ball 210 times for 1,303 yards and 15 touchdowns,” Jordan Plocher writes, of Allen, for PFF. “He consistently created yards on his own, averaging 6.2 yards per carry, including 3.77 yards after contact per attempt.

“He finished the season with a 91.3 PFF rushing grade — second in the class behind Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love — and currently ranks as the No. 152 prospect on the PFF Big Board.”

The fact that Allen managed that kind of production, while splitting carries with Nick Singleton for the better part of three-plus seasons in Happy Valley, could telegraph that his production in college may just be scratching the surface of what he’s able to post at the next level.

This article first appeared on Gridiron Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: