Nick Singleton Looks to Reset and Rise at Senior Bowl After Tumultuous Final Season at Penn State
MOBILE, Ala. - For Nick Singleton, the Senior Bowl isn’t just another step in the pre-draft process - it’s a chance to reintroduce himself. After a rollercoaster senior season at Penn State, the former five-star running back is in Mobile with something to prove: that he’s still one of the most dynamic backs in the 2026 NFL Draft class.
“I want to show that I’m a complete back,” Singleton said Wednesday. “I want to show everyone why I’m here.”
There’s no mistaking why Singleton is drawing eyes this week. Despite a down year statistically, his career résumé speaks loudly.
Singleton left Penn State as the program’s all-time leader in both rushing touchdowns and all-purpose yards - a legacy built over four years of explosive plays and big-game moments. But his final season didn’t go according to script, and that’s left his draft stock hovering in a bit of uncertainty.
The Senior Bowl, then, becomes more than just a showcase - it’s a reset button.
A Tale of Two Seasons
Coming off a College Football Playoff semifinal loss to Notre Dame in 2024, Singleton made the decision to return for one more run at a national title. But the 2025 campaign quickly unraveled. Penn State stumbled to a 3-3 start, head coach James Franklin was dismissed midseason, and the offense never found its rhythm.
Singleton, who had been the centerpiece of the Nittany Lions’ backfield for three seasons, saw his role diminish. He finished the year with just 549 rushing yards on 123 carries - both career lows - as teammate Kaytron Allen emerged as the more consistent option down the stretch. Interim coach Terry Smith leaned into the hot hand, giving Allen 140 carries over the final six games compared to Singleton’s 53.
“It wasn’t what I expected,” Singleton admitted. “But at the same time, I kept my head down and kept working.
The coaches were rallying behind me. Some of the players, too.”
That perseverance paid off in flashes. Singleton started to look more like himself late in the season, delivering signature moments that reminded scouts of the player who had once been one of college football’s most electric runners. He broke off a 59-yard run against eventual national champion Indiana, turned a short pass into a 50-yard gain against Nebraska, and closed out his Penn State career with a 53-yard touchdown run - one of two scores that day - against Rutgers to break the school’s all-time rushing TD record.
Those moments, combined with his track record, are why some draft analysts still see Singleton as a player with serious upside.
Draft Stock: A Mixed Bag
The evaluations on Singleton are all over the board. ESPN’s Steve Muench currently ranks him as the No. 2 running back in the 2026 class, trailing only Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love. But other prominent voices - including Mel Kiper Jr., Jordan Reid, and Matt Miller - don’t list Singleton among their top five.
Miller, however, acknowledged Singleton’s potential breakout heading into Senior Bowl week, suggesting Mobile could be the stage where the Penn State star reclaims some of the buzz that once surrounded him.
So far, Singleton is making good on that prediction.
During Tuesday’s team sessions, he flashed the speed and vision that made him such a dangerous weapon in Happy Valley. He broke off a couple of impressive runs, showing the kind of burst that forces defenders to take bad angles. And while pass protection has been a question mark in his game, Singleton held his own in drills - save for one tough rep against Oregon’s Bryce Boettcher - and looked solid overall in both Tuesday and Wednesday’s practices.
More Opportunities Ahead
This week is just the beginning of a crucial stretch for Singleton. Thursday’s practice and Saturday’s Senior Bowl game offer more chances to shine in front of NFL scouts and decision-makers.
Then comes the NFL Combine in February, where Singleton’s straight-line speed - long considered one of his biggest assets - will be on full display in the 40-yard dash. He’ll follow that up with Penn State’s pro day in March and a round of private workouts and team visits.
There’s still time for Singleton to climb the draft boards. And if he continues to show the explosiveness and versatility that defined his early career, he could very well solidify himself as one of the top backs in the class - maybe even RB2 behind Love.
But Singleton isn’t getting ahead of himself. Right now, it’s all about seizing the moment in front of him.
“This is a competitive atmosphere,” he said with a smile. “You’re just trying to show them what you can do.”
And so far in Mobile, Nick Singleton is doing just that.