Nicholas Singleton is the Next Great Big Ten Running Back
Close your eyes and think of some of the best running backs to come out of the Big Ten in the last decade or so. Guys that come to my mind are Ohio State’s Ezekiel Elliott and J.K. Dobbins, Wisconsin’s Jonathan Taylor, and Penn State’s Saquon Barkley all probably top your lists. What if I told you there is a true freshman at Penn State who could end up being better than all of them? Crazy? Maybe so. But when the day comes for his NFL Draft declaration, Nicholas Singleton will be remembered as one of the best to come out of the conference in a long time.
Singleton committed to the Nittany Lions in July of 2021, knowing he would be entering a crowded running back room, with guys like Keyvone Lee, Devyn Ford, and others ahead of him. But with the talent Singleton possesses, it will be hard to keep him off the field, even as a true freshman. Singleton is a violent runner, always looking to create contact. He seems to thrive off of that first hit, as if it almost gives him a second wind of sorts. He tends to run a bit upright at times but knows to shrink himself upon contact to have better leverage. Simply, he’s a fantastic run finisher.
The physical run style at times overshadows how elusive and quick he is. Singleton has great balance; foot speed is a plus as well. He can plant his foot and change direction on a dime. His downhill speed through gaps is one thing, but the open field speed is something to behold as well. His time in college should help how sometimes he runs a little tight. While he is not known for being a great receiving back, that too should only get better with time at Penn State.
I would be remiss if I did not mention the one slight concern I have. Singleton and his play style could lead to some unnecessary wear and tear that could hamper him down the line. It is all well and good to play like that in high school, but as the years go on, that is something he should look to not necessarily fix or change, instead find ways to be more selective and dial it back when it isn’t necessary.
There are guys with potential, there are guys like Nicholas Singleton with gobs of it. He should see the field early and often for the Nittany Lions, and the more the better. He is the kind of player when he touches the field, he will be taking someone’s job on the depth chart. This kid is special. He reminds me of Nick Chubb, which is as great a college (or pro) comparison as you can find. I can’t wait to watch Singleton run wild on the Big Ten for the next three years at least, as he etches his name among the greats of the last decade.
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