Penn State running back Noah Cain will miss rest of 2020 season - TribLIVE

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Penn State running back Noah Cain will miss the remainder of the 2020-21 season due to an undisclosed ailment, coach James Franklin announced during a video conference with media Tuesday.

“Love Noah,” Franklin said. “So much respect for Noah. He really had an unbelievable offseason and worked really hard for this opportunity. We met with Noah ahead of time and felt this was the appropriate thing to do.”

Cain’s absence comes roughly a week after the school announced Journey Brown, projected to be Penn State’s top running back before the season, could possibly miss the duration of the season due to his own undisclosed medical issue.

In their absences, Devyn Ford will take over as Penn State’s top running back beginning with Saturday’s home game against Ohio State.

During a 36-35 overtime road loss to Indiana on Saturday, when Cain left the game with an apparent injury to his left leg after rushing for 13 yards on three carries, Ford ran 20 times for 70 yards and a touchdown and caught three passes for 11 yards.

Ford was supplemented by running back Keyvone Lee, who offered 36 rushing yards on six carries as well as two catches for 11 yards. Addtionally, running back Caziah Holmes collected 16 rushing yards on five carries.

Penn State’s scheme for Ohio State doesn’t figure to change much.

“We played all three of those (running) backs on Saturday,” Franklin said. “Devyn got the majority of the carries, but Keyvone and Caziah played as well as true freshmen. Obviously, our circumstances have changed and everybody is dealing with this to a degree. We came into the season with our running back room considered maybe one of the strongest.

“At least, at this time, we’ve lost Journey Brown and Noah Cain. Those guys are going to need to step up and be ready to play. We have to be able to create more explosive plays. That was something like we felt that Journey and Noah were going to bring to the table for us. But this is just the nature of where we’re at right now.”

Franklin professed confidence in Ford’s ability following Saturday’s loss.

“He did some really nice things,” Franklin said. “His mentality was really good. There’s a difference between being a guy who’s rotating in with two other backs and being the (top) guy. And the Big Ten, a very physical conference, very good defenses in our conference and the style of offense that we’re running, he did some really good things.

“His leadership is going to be key with those younger guys as well. You’re going to have to change your mentality. It was one thing when Noah was the the starting (running) back and Devin was going to rotate in and be a complementary piece to now being the (top) guy. He’ll grow in to that. There’s no doubt that he has the talent to do that, and there’s no doubt that we believe in him. But there is a difference between being the lead dog and a rotational piece.”

Further down the depth chart, Franklin feels an adjustment will be in order for the learning process of Lee and Holmes.

“When we got started with this, those guys … were fourth and fifth on the depth chart. Now, we’re in a situation where they’re going to play prominent roles,” Franklin said. “We’ve seen flashes of really good things from them during practice and training camp and meetings and things like that, but we thought we’d have a little bit of time to let them gain some experience and maybe not so big moments, in meaningful moments. Maybe early on, let them grow into that.

“But here’s where we are. They’re both extremely talented. We have a lot of belief and confidence in them. But experience matters, and we’ve got to speed up that maturation process for them a little.”

Seth Rorabaugh is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Seth by email at srorabaugh@triblive.com or via Twitter .

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