Penn State could be without star running back in Week 6 vs. UCLA

Junior running back Nicholas Singleton has had a bounce-back start to his third season at Penn State, racking up 408 yards and three touchdowns on the ground across No. 7 Penn State’s 4-0 start. However, Singleton’s availability for the Nittany Lion’s Week 6 matchup against UCLA at Beaver Stadium came into question throughout the week as he missed a media availability, and now Singleton is listed as questionable on game day. 

Singleton looked healthy in Penn State’s Week 5 win over Illinois, rushing for 94 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries with two catches for 25 yards. So, whatever is ailing the star running back likely cropped up in the middle of the week, which explains his midweek absence and questionable designation. 

If Singleton cannot go, Penn State, which features one of the best running back duos in the country between Singleton and fellow junior Kaytron Allen, will actually be thin at the position. Redshirt freshman Cam Wallace won the RB3 job coming out of training camp, but was lost to a long-term injury in Penn State’s Week 4 win over Kent State after amassing 18 carries for 63 yards and a score on the season. 

Behind Wallace is true freshman Quinton Martin Jr. a four-star out of Belle Vernon High School in western Pennsylvania. Martin’s only action of the season came after Wallace left Week 4 and he turned his seven carries into 24 yards. 

Allen will become the team’s primary back and should be able to keep one of the country’s best running games humming against an underwhelming UCLA defense. However, James Franklin and offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki will need Singleton back healthy next Saturday when Penn State travels to LA to face No. 11 USC.