Nick Singleton finalist for Gatorade national Player of the Year
Nick Singleton is one of three finalists for the Gatorade national Player of the Year award.
The Gov. Mifflin running back rushed for 2,043 yards and scored 42 touchdowns in 11 games as a senior, averaging 13.2 yards per carry.
The other finalists are quarterback Cade Klubnik of Austin, Texas, a Clemson recruit, and wide receiver/defensive back Tetairoa McMillan of Anaheim, Ca., an Oregon commit.
Singleton is the first Gov. Mifflin player named Gatorade Pennsylvania Player of the Year.
The Berks Player of the Year is ranked as the nation’s No. 1 running back recruit in the Class of 2022 by 247Sports.com.
“Nick Singleton has a dynamic combination of speed and power for a running back,” said Cocalico coach Bryan Strohl, who saw Singleton score five first-half touchdowns as the Mustangs beat the Eagles 56-0. “He can get the tough yards or he can break any run for a touchdown if you give him a little seam. In my 18 years coaching high school football, I’ve never seen another running back with the skill set that he has.”
The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one winner in the District of Columbia and each of the 50 states which sanction high school football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, baseball, softball, and boys and girls track & field, and awards one National Player of the Year in each sport.
The selection process is administered by the Gatorade Player of the Year Selection Committee, which leverages experts including coaches, scouts, media and others as sources to help evaluate and determine the state winners in each sport.
Singleton has maintained a 3.51 GPA. He has a football scholarship to Penn State University and will enroll in January.
Singleton joins recent Gatorade Pennsylvania Players of the Year Kyle McCord of St. Joseph’s Prep, Julian Fleming, of Southern Columbia. and Phil Jurkovec, of Pine-Richland.
Klubnik, a 6-3, 186-pound senior, led the Chaparrals to a 13-0 record, a No. 2 national ranking in the USA TODAY Super 25 and a berth in the quarterfinals of the Class 6A-II state tournament. Klubnik completed 147-of-207 passes for 2,486 yards and 34 touchdowns, with just two interceptions, through 13 games. He was MVP of the Elite 11 quarterback competition and has been selected to play in the 2022 All-American Bowl, as has Singleton. Klubnik is ranked as the nation’s No. 1 quarterback recruit in the Class of 2022 by 247Sports.com.
McMillan, a 6-4, 195-pound senior caught 88 passes for 1,302 yards and 18 touchdowns, leading the Friars (10-3) to the Southern Section Division 1 championship game. Defensively, the Trinity League Player of the Year recorded 35 tackles and eight interceptions, returning two for scores. Rated as the nation’s No. 29 recruit in the Class of 2022 by 247Sports.com, McMillan was selected to play in the 2022 All-American Bowl and the Polynesian Bowl.
He is a three-sport varsity athlete and first-team All-State selection in volleyball.