Of all the players Penn State football missed during the 2020 season, running back Noah Cain was certainly close to the top of the list.

With Journey Brown’s football career cut short by a heart condition, Cain would’ve been relied on as the Nittany Lions’ consistent option in the backfield. That plan came crashing down quickly, however, as the star sophomore sustained a season-ending leg injury early in the season opener against Indiana.

James Franklin explained Monday that Cain will likely see some action during the second half of spring ball. Running backs coach Ja’Juan Seider then confirmed Wednesday that his star rusher is raring to go.

“If you know Noah, he attacks everything full steam ahead,” Seider said. “Even with this rehab and coming off of the injury, he’s doing the same thing. He’s diligent into the playbook and every meeting. What I love about him is he’s starting to come out of his shell and be a leader in the room.”

While he’s only played one season for the Nittany Lions plus three carries in 2020, there’s no question about Cain’s ability. As a true freshman in 2019, he proved a capable option behind Journey Brown, scoring eight touchdowns and putting up 443 rushing yards.

Cain’s official welcome to college football moment came he put up 100 yards in back-to-back games against Purdue and Iowa. Against the Hawkeyes, Cain was Penn State’s most valuable option down the stretch.

“He’s eager. He’s gonna do whatever it takes to get back on this field,” Seider said. “Hopefully we get him here sooner than later to at least get some work in him. Because he’s gonna be a big piece of our offense going forward.”

While Cain expects to be a star in the room, there’s not a steep drop off in talent behind him. The Nittany Lions have three running backs who carried the load last season in Devyn Ford, Keyvone Lee, and Caziah Holmes, and even boasts some veteran leadership in Baylor transfer John Lovett.

As true freshmen in 2020, Lee and Holmes hit some bumps in the road, but they each managed respectable first seasons in the blue and white. Lee was fantastic in his increased role with 438 rushing yards, including an 134-yard day in a win over Michigan. Holmes didn’t have the same amount of success, but he finished off his season with two scores in the victory over Illinois.

As for Ford, he had a middle-of-the-road year with 274 rushing yards, but was also dealing with injury and a few family matters throughout 2020.

Seider explained that Ford’s impressed him throughout his time in Happy Valley, but now in his third season, he needs to see him “take the next step.”

Finally, Lovett will add a whole new dimension to this group alongside Cain. After a productive four years in Waco in which he produced 1,803 yards on the ground and 18 total touchdowns, Lovett could be much more than a rotational piece for Penn State.

The 6’0″, 210 pound running back from New Jersey was even offered by James Franklin’s program back in 2016.

“[John]’s done a great job of fitting in the room. Not trying to put himself above guys or beneath guys,” Seider said. “He’s gonna bring some explosion to the offense. You can tell he’s a guy who’s played a lot of games. Now he’s just trying to find his way.”

As long as players can stay healthy, the Nittany Lions will have a plethora of running backs to work with in the next few months. After a season without two stars in the backfield, there’s no doubt that’s a refreshing prospect.

“In this room, we’ve got four, five guys that have started a college football game,” Seider said. “This thing is wide-open. Who’s gonna compete? Are we gonna take a backseat once Noah comes, or are we gonna push Noah for the job?”