As the Penn State Nittany Lions have dominated the first two rounds of the College Football Playoff, one of the reasons has been the team’s impressive ground game, powered by the dynamic running back duo of Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen.
The pair have been instrumental in Penn State’s playoff run, showcasing a blend of power, speed, and versatility that has left defenses scrambling. Among the two, Singleton has emerged as a particularly vital piece of the Nittany Lions offense, and head coach James Franklin praised his standout back ahead of the Orange Bowl.
Nicholas Singleton Earns Praise From James Franklin Ahead of Penn State vs. Notre Dame
Penn State head coach Franklin spoke about Singleton’s journey and growth during a press conference this week, offering insight into the recruitment and development of the star running back:
“He just was a really good athlete, and early on, we were not necessarily sure what he was doing, but we wanted him on our roster. We knew he was too big, strong, fast; we wanted him somewhere. You have to remember when Coach Pry was here, every good player that we were recruiting he thought was a linebacker, every single one of them.”
“So I think early on, we were, I thought, in a really good place, and then he went on some visits and almost lost him,” Franklin continued. “Then we were able to get him back and had a great senior year, and you know, has really just showed up here ready to contribute.”
“He’s a guy, I think in a lot of ways, like a lot of guys say they want to play as freshman but he approached it that way. You know, in the weight room in terms of learning the offense, how he practiced.”
“I think he’s just another example of a local kid that has thrived here. He’s crushing it academically. You know, been great in the community. I think you guys have got to spend a lot of time around him. He’s a man of few words. But he’s a substance guy.”
“To me, that’s what Penn State is about. We may not be the flashiest. It’s funny, I even look at Notre Dame and there’s a lot of parallels between Notre Dame and Penn State and kind of same uniforms, and now Notre Dame has even got a ton of different uniforms and things like that.”
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“To me, he’s a Penn State guy in terms of just substance, right? And has maximized his career…I think him and Kaytron [Allen] have developed a really good relationship, but sometimes that’s not always the case. They could be adversarial. They have been really good friends both on and off the field. I think they are complementary pieces to each other. He’s thriving.”
“Obviously, we’d love him back. But if he decides to come out, we’ll fight like heck to get him drafted as high as possible,” Franklin said, referencing the potential for Singleton to turn pro once the Penn State playoff run comes to an end.
“I know it’s important for him to go play well in this game this week and to keep this season going and keep this team together… Nick has been a leader. Big fan. Big fan of Nick and his mom and dad and Governor Mifflin High School, and how he’s handled his whole Penn State career.”
Franklin’s comments highlight Singleton’s journey from a promising recruit to a cornerstone of the team’s success. His ability to make an impact on and off the field exemplifies what it means to be a Penn State athlete.
As the Orange Bowl approaches, Singleton remains a key figure in the team’s pursuit of national glory. Whether he decides to return for another season or declare for the NFL Draft, Singleton’s time and legacy at Penn State has been cemented.
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