Dec 30, 2023; Atlanta, GA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions running back Nicholas Singleton (10) runs the ball against the Mississippi Rebels in the first quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Nicholas Singleton RB Penn State | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Nicholas Singleton RB Penn State
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| ROLE: DUAL-ROLE Back | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 05/12/2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 4.39 seconds (93%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Age: 21.4 DOB: 01/06/2004 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| ROLE: DUAL-ROLE Back | |
| Last Updated: 05/12/2025 | |
| Draft Year: 2026 | |
| 40 time: 4.39 seconds (93%*) | |
| Age: 21.4 DOB: 01/06/2004 | |
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| Overall Rating: | 85.4 / 100 | |
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| Average rating of opposition Defense player has faced | ||
| Defense Rating: |
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77% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Rushing: |
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84% |
| Break Tackles: |
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74% |
| Receiving/Hands: |
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70% |
| Pass Blocking: |
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39% |
| Run Blocking: |
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63% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
3rd
Overall Rank:
#71
Position rank:
#3
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| College Games: 40 College Snaps: 1379 | ||
ESPN RATING: 86/100
College Combine Results
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247 RATING: 98/100
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RIVALS RATING: 6.0 (98%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Braelon Allen - Wisconsin |
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79% |
| Quinshon Judkins - Ohio State |
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79% |
| Jaydon Blue - Texas |
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73% |
Draft Profile: Bio
From the moment he arrived in Happy Valley, Nicholas Singleton has been running angry. The thunderous back brought a rare blend of track speed and power-lifting strength that has defensive coordinators losing sleep. The 6'0", 227-pound wrecking ball from Shillington comes equipped with legitimate 4.39 speed and the raw power to squat 655 pounds – breaking Saquon Barkley's program record and landing him on Bruce Feldman's coveted "Freaks List" in consecutive seasons.The former Gatorade National Player of the Year wasted no time making his mark, ripping off a Penn State freshman-record 12 touchdowns in 2022 while cracking the 1,000-yard barrier. His sophomore campaign saw him develop as a receiver and blocker while still finding the end zone 10 times despite sharing touches. When the lights shined brightest during his junior season, Singleton delivered, exploding for five touchdowns in Penn State's final four games while showcasing the complete skill set that has NFL scouts drooling. His partnership with backfield mate Kaytron Allen made history as the first Penn State duo to each eclipse 1,000 rushing yards in the same season.
Rather than bolting for the NFL, Singleton made the shocking decision to return for his senior year despite having little left to prove. With nearly 3,000 career rushing yards already under his belt and a growing arsenal of receiving skills (41 catches as a junior), Singleton has positioned himself to climb even higher in the Nittany Lions' storied record books while solidifying his case as one of the top prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft class.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Exceptional burst through the line of scrimmage creates immediate vertical stress on defenses that must account for his home run ability on every touch.
- Displays controlled, quick footwork allowing for sudden deceleration and immediate cuts that help him navigate tight spaces between the tackles.
- Significantly improved patience during his junior season, showing maturity in letting blocks develop before exploding through openings.
- Elite top-end speed documented at 23.6 mph on GPS that erases pursuit angles once he breaks into the open field.
- Possesses impressive contact balance that allows him to run through arm tackles while maintaining forward momentum.
- Developed into a legitimate receiving threat with soft hands and route-running ability that creates mismatches against linebackers.
- Advanced pass protection skills with the willingness to square up blitzing linebackers and deliver solid strikes in protection.
- Special teams value as a kick returner who averaged nearly 24 yards per return throughout his collegiate career.
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Can still miss some significant cutback opportunities due to occasional tunnel vision when following designed play paths.
- Shows some hip tightness that limits his agility in small spaces and restricts his ability to chain multiple cuts together.
- Jump cuts cover limited ground, making him less elusive in the open field than his athletic testing might suggest.
- Lacks the natural wiggle of a true make-you-miss back, relying more on speed and power than creativity in space.
- Inconsistent with his stiff arm technique which diminishes effectiveness of what should be a go-to move for a back with his arm strength.
Scouting Report: Summary
Singleton will immediately threaten defenses with his explosive blend of power and speed. The home run potential jumps off the tape, but questions remain about his ability to string together multiple cuts when initial running lanes disappear. His footwork shows impressive control for navigating tight spaces, though his hip tightness limits the creativity he can display once reaching the second level.Three-down versatility gives Singleton immediate value beyond just early-down carries. He's no liability in pass protection – quite the opposite – as he squares up blitzers with genuine enthusiasm and technical skill lacking in many college backs. Though he's shown growth as a receiver with natural hands, his route tree remains somewhat limited and he'll need to develop more nuance against NFL coverage schemes. The flashes of patience he displayed as a junior must become more consistent at the next level, where hesitation gets punished severely.
Zone-heavy offenses will maximize his decisive one-cut ability and straight-line explosiveness that turns modest openings into chunk plays. While his kick return skills provide day-one special teams value, his ceiling ultimately depends on refining the subtleties – developing counter moves beyond his raw athleticism, improving spatial awareness, and becoming more consistent with his stiff arm technique. The tools for stardom exist in abundance, but unlocking his full potential requires continued development of the little things that elevate good runners to game-changers.
Written By:
K.C. Martinez (Big Ten)
How other scouting services rate Nicholas Singleton (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
38.8
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
2.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.