Penn State Football Recruiting: First 2022 Big Board

5. Nicholas Singleton

The 4-star running back is arguably the top skill position player on Penn State’s board.

The Reading, Pa product has good size for a running back at 5-foot-11 and 195 pounds. He has solid speed, last clocked at 4.59 40-time, although that number is from the Summer of 2019, so it’s most likely quicker now.

Penn State’s backfield took a hit this year due to Journey Brown’s retirement, Noah Cain’s season-ending injury and Devyn Ford’s numerous ailments, along with a death in his family. So, this year the depth has been bad, but Cain and Ford along with freshmen Keyvone Lee and Caziah Holmes should all be back next year. The problem comes after 2021.

Both Ford and Cain are eligible to leave and the Nittany Lions did not sign at running back in2021, although they are waiting to hear from Deshun Murrell. If they don’t get Murrell, it’s possible that Lee and Holmes are the only scholarship running backs in 2022 with any playing experience. Singleton becomes a necessity for the Nittany Lions in that situation.

Now, he’s not the only running back on Penn State’s board, but he’s the highest rated one, and he’s an in-state kid, he’s a need, not a want.

Penn State is locked in a head to head battle with Ohio State for Singleton, and with the way Ohio State has been recruiting, the staff better bring their A-game. Ohio State did sign two highly rated running backs in 2021, so Penn State may have the advantage in terms of selling early playing time Singleton.