Nick Singleton has made his mark at Penn State — lots of them

By Mike Drago Last updated Jun 5, 2025

Gov. Mifflin grad Nick Singleton, at Penn State. (Penn State University photo)

Nick Singleton might be playing his final college football game Thursday when Penn State meets Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl.

If the Nittany Lions lose their season is over and the Gov. Mifflin grad will have to decide whether he’s playing another season in college or heading to the NFL. He hasn’t committed to either at this point.

Some believe the running back is more than ready for the NFL. He has the size and speed and the skills to be an every-down back.

If he decides to enter the draft, it’s unlikely he’ll be a first-round pick. Maybe not even a second-round pick. There are half-a-dozen or more backs on the board ahead of him at this point.

Nick Singleton (Penn State University photo)

And don’t forget, running back is no longer a premier position in the NFL.

In the 2024 Draft not a single running back was taken in the first round; the first back taken went at No. 46.

Same thing happened in 2022: No backs were taken in the first round. (Two were taken in the first round in 2023.)

Penn State coach James Franklin, of course, would love to have Singleton back for a fourth season.

He went on and on about him last week during a press conference to kick off the Orange Bowl.

“He’s an example of a local kid that has thrived here,” Franklin said. “He’s crushing it academically. (He’s) been great in the community. He’s a man of few words. But he’s a substance guy. To me, that’s what Penn State is about.”

Singleton, arguably, is the most successful Berks County native to play at Penn State since Lenny Moore, more than 70 years ago. If he plays another season at Penn State he could end up as one of the most prodcutive backs in program history.

Here’s a look at some of his accomplishments:

In last week’s win over Boise State Singleton went over 1,000 rushing yards in a season for the second time in his career, joining John Cappelletti (1972, 1973), Blair Thomas (1987, 1989), Curtis Enis (1996, 1997), Evan Royster (2008, 2009) and Saquon Barkley (2015, 2016, 2017). If he returns he could join Barkley as the only back with three 1,000-yard seasons.

Backfield partner Kaytron Allen also went over 1,000 yards last week, making him and Singleton the only running back tandem at the FBS level this season each with 1,000 rushing yards.

Singleton and Allen are the first Penn State duo to each rush for 1,000 yards in the same season. They are the first pair to do so in the Big Ten since Iowa’s Akrum Wadley and Leshun Daniels Jr. in 2016, and the ninth 1,000-yard tandem in league history.

With 2,828 career rushing yards, Singleton ranks 11^th all-time at Penn State. He needs 172 yards to become the eighth in program history with 3,000 yards. Evan Royster set the record with 3,932 yards in 2010. That number is within range with another season.

With 29 career rushing touchdowns, Singleton has moved into a tie for seventh all-time at Penn State with John Cappelletti, Richie Anderson and Evan Royster. Saquan Barkley set record with 43, from 2015-17. Another record within distance.

Singleton has 4,535 career all-purpose yards, fourth all-time at Penn State. He passed Evan Royster (4,502) and Blair Thomas (4,512) last week. With another productive season he could pass Saquon Barkley (5,538), Larry Johnson (5,045) and Curt Warner (4,982).

Singleton has 38 career touchdowns (29 rushing, eight receiving, one kickoff return) and is tied for third all-time at Penn State with Curtis Enis (38). He trails only Saquon Barkley (53) and Lydell Mitchell (41).

When he rushed for 1,061 yards as a freshman in 2022 Singleton became the first Berks County native to lead the Nittany Lions in rushing since Lenny Moore, in 1954.

Singleton set the Penn State freshman record with 12 rushing touchdowns in 2022. He rushed for 179 yards in the home-opener against Ohio, the most ever by a Penn State player in his home debut.

Singleton’s 87-yard touchdown run his freshman season against Utah was the third-longest in Rose Bowl history, and the second-longest ever by a Penn State player in a bowl game. (Saquon Barkley had a 92-yard TD run in the 2017 Fiesta Bowl.)

Singleton became just the third Penn State player to rush for 1,000 yards as a freshman, joining Saquon Barkley and D.J. Dozier. He finished with 1,061 yards, just 15 yards short of Barkley’s record.