Penn State Football: excluding any QB or offensive lineman, who are the most important players in 2022?

Nicholas Singleton – running back

Penn State Football once again has a dynamic running back in their arsenal, one with elite athleticism and game breaking speed – both of which are things the Nittany Lions lacked at running back in 2021.

While Nicholas Singleton will probably split carries with the more seasoned Keyvone Lee (at least to begin the season), the former five-star standout from Governor Mifflin will get more than his fair share of touches as a true freshman.

Singleton’s ability to consistently gain positive yardage, as well as break off some chunk plays throughout the game, will be important for this offense if they hope to become a more balanced attack than the one that we saw last year.

The freshman back can also be a contributor in the passing game, acting as a security blanket (along with the tight ends) for Sean Clifford when opposing defenses key on Parker Washington and Mitchell Tinsley.

If the Nittany Lions hope to turn things around offensively in 2022, Nicholas Singleton is going to have to step up and make an impact right away.