Penn State’s Nick Singleton turning the page from debut season to ‘what’s next’

STATE COLLEGE — Nick Singleton can’t seem to shake it. Everywhere the Penn State phenom turns, he still manages to see his record-setting Rose Bowl run.

Singleton’s dash through Utah’s defense, one that encapsulated his electrifying freshman season, happened five weeks ago. Friends keep sending him the highlight anyway, and he can’t help but notice when it pops up on social media.

Singleton even admitted that he would look up the 87-yard touchdown himself and relive it in the days following Penn State’s 35-21 win. And who could blame him?

“Back then, I would watch it,” Singleton said with a smile. “I was feeling good.”

Singleton knows that jaw-dropping moment in Pasadena is going to be replayed over and over again. It’s going to be remembered like Saquon Barkley’s and Ki-Jana Carter’s runs at the Rose Bowl. He knows that’s something to be cherished.

But Singleton also knows he has to move on. That was his point of emphasis when he met with reporters on Tuesday afternoon for the first time since Pasadena.

“Now you have to worry about what’s next,” Singleton said in the Beaver Stadium media room. “Now you have to worry about this season.”

Some freshmen might let a year like the one Singleton had get to their heads.

Singleton was named the Big Ten’s freshman of the year and a freshman All-American by several national outlets after leading Penn State with 1,061 yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground. The five-star prospect from Governor Mifflin ended the campaign with seven runs of 40-plus yards, second in the FBS.

Singleton and fellow freshman Kaytron Allen combined to make a dynamic duo. They propelled Penn State’s offense, which averaged 35.8 points per game — enough to win 11 games and earn the No. 7 spot in the final Associated Press top 25 poll.

That strong finish has naturally flowed into an optimistic offseason, both internally in the Lasch Building and across the country. When analysts pick Penn State as a College Football Playoff contender, they often point to Singleton as a reason why.

Singleton’s response to that kind of attention? “Keep your head down and work.”

“I have a great support system who always keep me grounded,” said Singleton, who has leaned on his family and those who know him best in Berks County throughout the last year. “… The community has been a big help. They’re always watching games, telling me good job. But they always push me.”

Singleton pushes himself, too. He pushed himself to become a 1,000-yard rusher as a freshman, which he accomplished. Now, with winter workouts underway and spring camp on the horizon, Singleton is pushing himself to be more of a leader.

Penn State’s offense lost a lot of voices from last year. Sixth-year senior quarterback Sean Clifford is gone. So are top receivers Parker Washington and Mitchell Tinsley, top tight end Brenton Strange and veteran linemen Juice Scruggs and Bryce Effner. There’s room for younger players to step up and be more vocal.

Fellow 2022 signee Zane Durant said quarterback Drew Allar is going to be a leader, “but he doesn’t know it yet.” Durant also mentioned Singleton in the same breath.

“I feel like it could be me,” Singleton said. “I feel like I’m getting to that point. … It’s my second year. We ain’t freshmen anymore. Have to be ready for those expectations.”

Dealing with expectations is nothing new for Singleton. That comes with the territory of being the Gatorade national player of the year and one of Penn State’s highest-rated recruits of not only the James Franklin era, but since the turn of the century.

Singleton exceeded expectations last season. From his 179-yard performance against Ohio in Week 2 to that Rose Bowl run, Singleton did it all as a true freshman.

What he does as a sophomore — and how he prepares over the coming days, weeks and months — will go a long way in determining if Penn State lives up to its own expectations in 2023.