Nick Singleton, Penn State: 2025 NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report

Singleton was a five-star recruit from Governor Mifflin High School in Shillington, Pa. in the class of 2022

Penn State’s Nick Singleton is one of the most explosive running backs in the 2025 NFL Draft. He’s rebounding well after a disappointing 2023 season and should figure into the second round conversation this coming spring.

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Nick Singleton, RB Penn State: 2025 NFL Draft Profile

Classification: Junior running back from Shillington, Pa.

Background: Singleton was a five-star recruit from Governor Mifflin High School in Shillington, Pa. in the class of 2022. He was the No. 31 recruit according to 247Sports, No. 43 for Rivals (four-star), and No. 27 for On3.com. ESPN ranked him 57th in the nation with an 86 grade out of 100 (four-star). Singleton set the Berks County record with 6,326 rushing yards and 116 touchdowns. As a senior, he served as a team captain and led Governor Mifflin to a 10-1 record and the Berks Football League Section 1 title. That year, Singleton carried the ball 165 times for 2,059 yards and totaled 44 touchdowns. He also caught four passes for 98 yards and two touchdowns and returned a kick for a touchdown. Singleton was the Pennsylvania 2021 Gatorade National Player of the Year and earned the Maxwell Football Club’s National Offensive Player of the Year award. He and Governor Mifflin went 8-1 and won the District 5A title during his junior season. Singleton rushed for 1,311 yards and 22 touchdowns on 107 carries. As a sophomore, he carried the ball 180 times for 1,690 yards and 32 touchdowns. Singleton totaled 1,266 yards and 24 touchdowns as a freshman. He was invited to the 2022 All-American Bowl. He also participated in the shot put, long jump, 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash, and 4x100-meter relay events on the track and field team. Singleton earned All-County honors in the 100-meter and 200-meter dash. He ran 10.89 and 22.89 times as a junior. Singleton also threw 46-1 1/4 in the shot put and leapt 20-1 3/4 in the long jump.

Injuries & Off-Field: N/A

Awards: 2023 Third Team All-Big Ten

Pros: Returns kicks for Penn State, Freaks List inclusion, muscular and thick frame, foot speed, controlled and quick feet, feet help with sudden stops and starts, footwork helps him decelerate and make subtle cuts quickly, rapid hip and foot movements like a skier, good lateral agility on jump cuts, looks more patient in 2024, burst to slip through small gaps, slips around and through narrow gaps, accelerates past first and second-level defenders, burst and top speed to erase some angles, contact balance, churns legs through contact, tackled falling forward, receiving threat on third downs, runs intermediate routes out of the backfield, stacks or blow pasts linebackers on routes, speed to quickly out-leverage defenders on routes, too athletic for linebackers to cover, size helps him compete in pass pro, lines up and sticks blitzers in pass pro, stays square to defender as a blocker

Cons: Vision misses some big cutback opportunities, lapses in patience lead to him running into his own blockers, waits too long to hit the gas, some tightness in hips, stiffness limits agility in small spaces, lacks twitch, jump cuts cover limited ground, limited open field wiggle and elusiveness, inconsistent stiff arm, not a true power back, six combined drops in 2022 and 2023, hands land wide in pass pro, anchor overwhelmed in pass pro at times

Overview: Singleton has a muscular and thick frame molded by years of success as a weight room warrior. He made Bruce Feldman’s annual Freaks List in 2024. According to Feldman, the star Penn State running back hit 23.6 mph on the GPS and ran a 4.35 40-yard dash in the summer. Singleton runs a 4.18 short shuttle and jumps 10-1 in the broad. He power cleans 390 lbs. and broke Saquon Barkley’s program record for a running back with a 655 lb. squat. Singleton has controlled and quick footwork that helps him decelerate suddenly for immediate cuts. His rapid hip and foot movements make him look like a skier when working through trash between the tackles. The Pennsylvania native flashes good lateral agility for his size on jump cuts, but he deals with some hip tightness and stiffness that limits his twitch and agility in a phone booth. He looks more patient operating behind the line in 2024 than in previous seasons and is timing his explosive burst better. In previous years, he suffered from running into the backs of his own blockers or waiting too long to hit the gas and get vertical. Singleton’s vision also appears to be in a better place this season, but he still misses some cutback lanes. The junior’s excellent burst helps him slip through narrow gaps and accelerate into the third level of the defense. His burst and top speed erase pursuit angles at all levels. Singleton uses his contact balance and churning legs to break tackles and fall forward when being brought down. His elusiveness and wiggle in the open field are limited, and his stiff arm is inconsistent. Despite his weight room numbers, Singleton isn’t a true power back. He offers multi-role versatility that will carry over to the NFL. The former five-star recruit returns kicks for Penn State and is a well-versed receiving threat. The Nittany Lions even give him some snaps in the slot where they motion him across the formation. Singleton works routes at the short to intermediate levels of the field. He uses his speed and burst to blow past linebackers on routes and create mismatches in favor of the offense. Most linebackers aren’t athletic enough to cover Singleton. He is a competitive pass protector who stays square to pass rushers and sticks them with powerful hits. Singleton takes pride in his blocking and is a third down asset for Penn State in both running and passing situations. He needs to tighten his hand placement as a blocker. Some edge rushers have the strength or speed to power conversion to overwhelm Singleton’s anchor.

Overall, Singleton is an explosive running back with an insane athletic profile and the receiving and pass protection skills to play on every down. Some stiffness limits his agility and open field elusiveness. Singleton has the physical potential to be a lead back.

Role & Scheme Fit: Eventual lead back in an inside zone or gap scheme

Round Grade: Late Second to Mid Third Round

Size: 6'0", 226 lbs. (Unofficial)

Submitted: 09-20-24