NFL Draft 2026 Scouting Report for Penn State RB Nicholas Singleton

Damian ParsonDec 4, 2025

Nicholas Singleton is an explosive athlete and ball carrier who checks the physical boxes to develop into a dynamic three-down playmaker at the next level.

His top-end speed has an extra gear with great acceleration. Singleton catches the ball well and is versatile enough to be deployed in diverse ways as a receiver out of the backfield.

Singleton joined Penn State as a former 5-star recruit in the 2022 class. After three good and promising seasons, 2025 has not been as kind to Singleton with his on-field production. He suffered a broken foot during Senior Bowl practices.

Dame Parson is the lead host of the Locked On NFL Draft podcast. He also serves as co-host of the Scouting Room NFL Podcast alongside Daniel Harms.

Highlights

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Scroll down for the full scouting report.

Where He Wins

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COLLEGE FOOTBALL: NOV 08 Indiana at Penn State

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- Big playmaker with the football. Singleton has great burst/acceleration to reach top speed and outrun pursuit angles to the perimeter. He puts pressure on second-level defenders to close or fill running lanes quickly before he explodes through into the open field.

- Penn State's talented RB excels as a downhill runner with his shoulders squared to the line of scrimmage. He is an aggressive runner who converts speed and acceleration to power upon contact. He is a great fit for gap/power scheme offenses in the NFL.

- Singleton is a talented pass catcher with alignment versatility. He can line up out wide and in the slot to create favorable matchups for his quarterback to exploit. He tracks the ball well for a running back on fades and downfield routes.

- His patience and vision on power concepts are keys to his ability to find daylight behind his lead blockers. Maximizing the homerun threat that his top-end speed presents to a defense.

Areas of Improvement

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COLLEGE FOOTBALL: SEP 27 Oregon at Penn State

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- Singleton is a straight-line and downhill runner who lacks the wiggle to create for himself. He isn't elusive to make defenders miss in a phone booth and relies on power to get through traffic.

- Reading and processing information on zone runs is hit or miss. Penn State's dynamic back does not have a natural feel for zone concepts. There is hip tightness when he needs to rotate and become a one-cut runner.

- The inability to string together quick lateral cuts hampers his ability to negotiate quick backfield penetration. If the defense knifes into the backfield before he has forward momentum, the play will be over quickly.