James Franklin has pulled off what many in college football would call a near miracle. There was fear that Penn State might lose key contributors to the 2025 NFL Draft, but the Nittany Lions received a major boost when several opted to return for the upcoming season.
The big question: How did Franklin make this happen when players often jump at the chance to turn pro? His approach wasn’t about money or promises. It was all about building strong relationships, earning trust and creating an environment players didn’t want to leave.
James Franklin Explains Keeping Nick Singleton, Kaytron Allen & Drew Allar
In a recent interview on Next Up with Adam Breneman, Penn State head coach James Franklin shared how he retained Singleton, Allar and Allen for the 2025 season. Franklin credited his program’s relationship-driven culture and the deep trust he’s built with his players.
“Of all the impressive things you’ve done here in your time, I think one of the most impressive is how you’ve developed guys that have stayed in this program,” Breneman said. “That’s so rare in college football.”
Franklin agreed. “I think it’s the culture we’ve built here,” he explained. “There’s a culture of transformational relationships—true relationships where they know I care about them and their futures.”
He also described how he addresses NFL opportunities. He doesn’t bring it up during busy game weeks; he waits for the off-season, when players have time to think carefully about their choices.
For Nick Singleton, James Franklin focused on the importance of personal growth and finishing his degree. He even pointed to former Penn State star Olu Fashanu as an example. For Kaytron Allen, the chance to have his first fully healthy offseason was exciting.
And for Drew Allar, the team’s star quarterback, the motivation came from wanting to grow even stronger after a tough postseason. Most importantly, players finally agree with the team’s decision, which shows the strong team culture the head coach has built.
“The reality is every single player on our roster is probably walking away from a little bit of money because they appreciate what this experience is like,” Franklin didn’t forget to clarify this special part. He also mentioned how the team is selective with transfers, only taking about 4–6 each year, unlike other programs that have over 40.
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Now, with Singleton, Allen, and Allar back for 2025, Penn State is in a strong position to make another run at the national championship.
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