Penn State football running back Nicholas Singleton didn't have the 2025 season he, or anyone, expected.
Penn State RB hopes to put his senior season behind, looks ahead to 2026 NFL Draft
The Nittany Lions lost their offensive vision in hopes of turning quarterback Drew Allar into a quarterback he never was. In turn, they also dulled Singleton's spark. Running back Kaytron Allen stood out as the team's top rusher, earning that RB1 spot from the jump, and it took Singleton over half the season to remind everyone what kind of threat he is. In Week 14, he broke Saquon Barkley's all-time touchdown record in program history, scoring his 54th total and 44th rushing touchdown against Rutgers.
Singleton opted not to play in the Pinstripe Bowl against Clemson after helping the team finish 6-6 overall (3-6 Big Ten). He declared for the 2026 NFL Draft and now he has a chance to up his draft stock in the Senior Bowl.
Nicholas Singleton predicted to break out in Senior Bowl ahead of 2026 NFL Draft
ESPN's Matt Miller made a prediction about the offensive players appearing in the Senior Bowl. He wrote:
"Penn State running back Nicholas Singleton will break out. He has the tools to shine at the Senior Bowl after a quiet season in which he had only 549 rushing yards on 123 carries as part of a greater Nittany Lions offensive malaise. Singleton's burst at 6 feet, 224 pounds stands out as a trait that teams will always covet when evaluating running backs. There isn't a clear RB2 in the class behind Jeremiyah Love, and Singleton could rise into that ranking."
Not only is Singleton predicted to turn heads, but he has to. His 2025 season certainly isn't enough to back him as a high, valuable draft pick. Even looking back at his success over his three previous seasons at Penn State isn't enough to justify considering the dip he took as a senior.
Singleton will surely put on a performance that NFL teams are impressed by, and a professional career is still in the cards. He just needs to remind them that one blip doesn't define him.