Former Penn State football running backs Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen earned invitations to the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine. After leaving it out on the field and podium during drills and interviews, only a few more steps are left before the 2026 NFL Draft: taking one of 30 visits NFL teams are allotted and the Nittany Lions' Pro Day.
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At the combine, both rushers met with the Philadelphia Eagles. While it's unlikely for Singleton and Allen to stick together and start their NFL careers as Eagles, it's not a long shot for the team to take a chance on one of the two.
After all, Penn State running backs have a good rep in Philadelphia.
The #Eagles met with #PennState RBs Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen at the NFL Combine after showing interest at the Senior Bowl. Asked the PSU record-holders about the possibility of playing with Saquon Barkley.
— Johnny McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) March 4, 2026
"It would be crazy. I would love that."https://t.co/WSW7zwjiJA
Philadelphia Eagles show interest in Penn State running backs Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen
The 2024 Offensive Player of the Year and running back Saquon Barkley didn't overlap with Singleton or Allen in Happy Valley after entering his name into the 2018 NFL Draft. The two current prospects are quite familiar with his legacy at the collegiate and professional level, though.
"It would be crazy. I would love that. To stay home, play with [Barkley], that would be really cool," Singleton told reporters at the combine, as reported by Johnny McGonigal of PennLive.
Allen agreed, saying Barkley is one of his role models, especially as a former Nittany Lion.
"Any opportunity would be great. But to do it with him, I watched him at Penn State and tried to fill his shoes," Allen said of Barkley. "He would be a great mentor. He’s a great guy and a great running back. So that would be great.”
Singleton performed slightly better out of the two at the combine. He finished with a 6.0 prospect grade, labeled as "traits or talent to be above-average backup." He scored a 64 in production (ninth-best among running backs), a 76 in athleticism (fifth-best), and a 72 total score (seventh-best).
Allen had a 5.97 prospect grade, good for an "average backup or special-teamer." He scored a 69 in production (eighth-best), 70 in athleticism (15th-best), and 69 in total (ninth-best).
With both being a solid backup option for any NFL team, Barkley is the perfect excuse for the Eagles to draft either Singleton or Allen.
That mentorship, as Allen alluded to, could go a long way and help morph either former Penn Stater into an elite NFL rusher. Especially as Barkley turns 30 in 2027, Philadelphia will very soon need a solid running back that can split reps with the veteran and preserve his talent for longer.