THE SKINNY
Nicholas Singleton was a key piece of the slightly infamous 2022 Penn State recruiting class that also featured the likes of Drew Allar, Abdul Carter, Dani Dennis-Sutton, and Kaytron Allen. The Reading, Pennsylvania, native was a five-star recruit through and through, and was considered the top running back and No. 19 overall recruit in his class by 247Sports.
Singleton was a day-one starter in Happy Valley and put together an incredibly productive freshman campaign, earning Big Ten Freshman
of the Year honors in 2022. He surpassed 1,000 rushing yards, scoring 14 times from scrimmage and once on a kick return. His 87-yard touchdown scamper in the Rose Bowl victory over Utah was the cherry on top of an impressive first season.
The running back suffered from a bit of a sophomore slump in 2023, in part thanks to a largely anemic offense run by coordinator Mike Yurcich, who was fired mid-season. Singleton bounced back in 2024 and was a massive part of the Nittany Lions’ semifinal playoff run. He battled injuries on and off, but still managed a career-best 1,805 all-purpose yards in 15 games, good for best in the Big Ten.
You can’t tell the story of Nicholas Singleton without his partner in crime, Kaytron Allen, who often took a “thunder” approach to Singleton’s “lightning.” The duo both rushed for more than 1,000 yards in 2024, marking the first time in school history that’s happened. Both running backs announced they would return for one last ride in the 2025 season, which unfortunately proved to be one of the most disappointing in program history. James Franklin was fired, Drew Allar was sidelined with an injury, and things unraveled from there.
Singleton struggled greatly during his final season in Happy Valley, putting a sour taste in the mouth of an otherwise fruitful and decorated career. He rushed for just 549 yards and lost lead-back duties to Allen, who went on to become the school’s all-time leading rusher. In 2025, Singleton often hesitated to run north-south and avoided contact at times. His home-run hitting superpower from seasons prior was gone, but he still mustered a career-best 14 rushing touchdowns.
When the dust settled on Singleton’s career, he was Penn State’s all-time leader in career rushing touchdowns (45), total touchdowns (55), and all-purpose yards (5,586).
WHAT YOU’RE GETTING
Singleton will likely drop on NFL Draft big boards due to a broken foot he suffered in January and his “down” 2025 year. While he did not participate in pre-draft testing, he reportedly ran a 4.35 40-yard dash in 2024.
If Singleton can return to form, you’re getting a super quick running back with true home-run potential. He’s a straight-line, downhill runner and can attack holes if they’re there, but he struggles with backfield vision and would rarely create opportunities for himself. This became apparent during the 2025 season when Penn State’s offensive line took a step backward. Line him up like a bottle rocket behind a blocker and he can go, but otherwise you’ll be disappointed with his change-of-direction and tackle shedding.
At 6-foot and 219 pounds, he’s a true three-down guy and can be utilized in the red zone, making him pretty well-rounded overall. His motor is extremely high, and he will hit gaps like a bull in a china shop. Just watch tape of him running out of the Wing T-Formation under Yurcich, and you’ll know what I mean.
Singleton’s kick return skills will also surely pick him up some extra attention from NFL teams. His speed allows him to be a true scoring threat, and he’s had enough reps through four years of college to have surefire hands. He’s also become a strong pass blocker, especially after putting on extra weight, which just adds to his versatility.
Overall, you’re getting a seasoned, mature, well-rounded back who’s super quick and explosive but can struggle with vision and creation. He’s expected to be a day two or three guy, but I don’t think any Penn State fan would be surprised to see him vastly overperform his draft position.
