Penn State looks to benefit from presence of healthy, effective Nick Singleton vs. Oregon

Nick Singleton’s individual performance vs. Minnesota in Penn State’s penultimate regular-season game Nov. 23 looked to be a good sign.

The junior tailback, whose campaign was derailed by a midseason ailment that limited his participation and effectiveness, managed 63 rushing yards on 13 carries, adding a touchdown against the Gophers.

In the Nittany Lions’ finale against Maryland, Singleton scored two touchdowns and recorded his most rushing yards (87) in nearly two months.

With No. 3 Penn State (11-1) set to take on No. 1 Oregon (12-0) in the Big Ten championship Saturday, coach James Franklin is glad to have a key member of his offense back in top form.

“It’s pretty obvious that Nick is back,” Franklin said. “He’s as close to 100% as he’s been in a long time, and you see the burst and the acceleration on tape. … A healthy Nick Singleton is a positive for our team and for our offense.”

Singleton missed Penn State’s win over UCLA on Oct. 5, and over the following five games, he averaged only about eight carries and 35 yards.

But Singleton has looked more like his early-season self in the past two games.

Not to mention, if there was any lingering doubt about his “burst,” Singleton eased those potential concerns with a 66-yard kickoff return vs. the Terrapins shortly after fumbling on Penn State’s first play of the game.

Nick Singleton recorded one of the fastest runs of the week, hitting 21.2 MPH on his kick return against Maryland.

“Nick is back as close to 100% as he's been in a long time, and you see the burst and the acceleration on tape.”

- James Franklin
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— Joel Haas (@Joel_Haas1) December 3, 2024

“I feel like 100%,” Singleton said. “Throughout the whole week, I’ve been feeling good. Really haven’t been going out, just staying in throughout the whole game. I just feel like everything’s good.

“You’ve got to give a shoutout to the training room. I’ve been there all the time, and they’ve been really helpful for me in getting my body right, so I feel good.”

Singleton and fellow junior running back Kaytron Allen will be tasked with finding holes against an Oregon defense that ranks seventh nationally in total defense at 283.8 yards per game.

That said, if a weakness does exist, it might be against the run. Oregon has allowed 112.2 rushing yards per game, which ranks 22nd in the nation.

Penn State players said they’re in the appropriate mindset heading into the game.

“It just starts with practice and having a great week of prep,” Singleton said. “Everybody’s here, getting in the film room and seeing the stuff we’ve got to figure out (vs. Oregon). I just feel like we’re in the right mood, we’ve just got to continue doing it. I feel like on Saturday, everything will take care of itself.”

Added quarterback Drew Allar: “I don’t think it’s really been different from what we’ve done the regular season so far, at least that’s the feel I have. Overall, we’re a really focused team just by nature of how we’re all wired and how the coaching staff is wired. I also think that’s a really good thing to have.

“We’re super focused throughout the week, but when it’s time to go over to the game and play the game, I think we play loose and free more naturally because of how focused we were throughout the week, just (knowing) that we’ve done everything necessary to prepare for the game and opportunity that we have.”

Note: Franklin, speaking with reporters Wednesday in State College, expressed confidence that receiver Harrison Wallace III and cornerback Elliot Washington II would be available vs. Oregon after injury-induced absences. Wallace missed the Maryland game last Saturday and is Penn State’s second-leading receiver behind Tyler Warren with 35 catches for 579 yards and three touchdowns. Washington has not suited up for the last two games. On the year, he has made 19 tackles with an interception and five pass breakups.