From now until the 2026 NFL Draft, we will scout and create profiles for as many prospects as possible, examining their strengths, weaknesses, and what they can bring to an NFL franchise. These players could be potential top-10 picks, all the way to Day 3 selections, and priority undrafted free agents. Today, a scouting report on Penn State running back Nick Singleton.
NO. 10 NICK SINGLETON/RB/PENN STATE – 6000, 221 POUNDS (SENIOR)
MEASUREMENTS
Player Ht/Wt Hand Size Arm Length Wingspan
Nick Singleton 6000/221 N/A N/A N/A
40-Yard Dash 10-Yard Dash Short Shuttle 3-Cone
N/A N/A N/A N/A
Broad Jump Vertical Bench Press
N/A
THE GOOD
-Explosive playmaker that has a knack for hitting the home run
-Good feel as a zone runner; able to find seams and can plant and get vertical in the blink of an eye
-At his best working downhill; a true north-south runner
-Shows good patience as a runner, allowing blocks to develop in front of him
-Consistent pass catcher out of the backfield; still developing as route runner, but good feel for leverage
-Physical pass blocker; willing to stand in there and throw haymakers
-Limited wear and tear physically; averaged just under 14 touches per game at Penn State
-Brings experience as a kick returner; has 48 career kick returns and one TD
THE BAD
-Lacks wiggle to his game; not going to make defenders miss in a phone booth, relies more on power in those situations
-Is going to test off the charts, but that explosive ability doesn’t show up consistently on tape, at least in tight areas
-Vision wanes, especially when working laterally; tends to miss some holes
-Never had more than 172 carries in a season; questions remain about ability to be true lead back
-Tracks the ball well downfield but has some consistency issues with his hands, especially on low throws
-Played through a number of nagging injuries in 2025; now dealing with broken foot that required surgery
STATS
-2025 stats: 123 carries for 549 yards, 13 touchdowns; added 24 receptions for 219 yards and a touchdown
-Played in 53 career games at Penn State; 622 carries for 3,461 yards and 45 touchdowns; 102 receptions for 987 yards and nine touchdowns
-Owns the program record for career rushing touchdowns with 45
-Set program’s freshman record for touchdowns in a season with 12 in 2022
-Competed in the 2026 Senior Bowl
INJURY HISTORY
-Underwent thumb surgery in January 2025 to fix ligament issue
-Suffered Jones fracture (fifth metatarsal) during practice at Senior Bowl, underwent surgery
-Played through various nagging injuries in 2025 that were undisclosed during season
BACKGROUND
-Born January 6, 2004
-Was named the 2021 Gatorade High School Player of the Year
-Rated a former 5-star recruit and the No. 49 player in the country coming out of high school
-Attended Governor Mifflin High School in Pennsylvania
-Competed in track and field in high school, running 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay
-Competed in the All-American Bowl as a top recruit following high school career
-Named Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2022
-Second-team All-Big Ten in 2022; third-team All-Big Ten in 2023
TAPE BREAKDOWN
In the day and age of today’s NFL, in which you need a running back with dual-threat abilities out of the backfield, one that can hit the home run time and time again, Penn State’s Nick Singleton brings that in abundance, entering the 2026 NFL Draft.
And he can provide that at a fraction of the cost, too.
Singleton, who set the all-time record for rushing touchdowns in a career at Penn State, surpassing Saquon Barkley, is dealing with a Jones fracture in his foot, which he suffered at the Senior Bowl. It required surgery and will keep him from testing at the Combine. That could drop his stock just a bit.
If it does, that’s the NFL’s gain, because the tape is quite good with Singleton.
He’s a one-cut running back, one that thrives as a north-south runner. He has great patience, too, allowing blocks to develop before then hitting the gas and breaking away.
This run against Indiana in 2025 was a great example of that. He’s a smooth runner, and he knows that he has the burst to stick his foot in the ground and get vertical in a hurry. The patience is huge here, allowing the hole to develop. Once he sees it, look how quickly he hits top gear.
You can’t teach that.
You can see that burst here with Singleton, too.
He’s an explosive runner. He’s not going to make many guys miss because he lacks true wiggle. But the agility is impressive and should allow him to destroy some angles in the run game.
His vision tends to wane at times, especially when working laterally. But when he’s able to press the line of scrimmage in the zone scheme, he runs to daylight and can carve up defenses.
He reportedly played through many nagging injuries during the 2025 season, but late in the year, he came on strong and was the Singleton many expected him to be after he surprisingly turned down the NFL in the 2025 NFL Draft.
It’s a shame he won’t get to run at the Combine because the former high school track star was probably going to clock a low 4.4 in the 40-yard dash. He’s a threat to take it to the house every time he touches the football, even on kick returns, too.
And he has a nose for the end zone as well.
When he’s healthy, he has a great feel for space, and that patience as a runner really pays off. When it clicks, and he sees the hole open up, few are going to catch him in the open field.
Where he’s going to make his mark at the next level, though, is in pass protection.
At 6000, 221 pounds, Singleton has a solid, powerful frame. He’s willing and able to stand in there and deliver blows in pass protection.
He rarely gives ground, too, and sinks into his hips well. Though his defender ultimately records the sack in the Notre Dame game, that’s a great initial take-on, stunning the safety and creating a clean pocket for his quarterback. The left tackle allowing the pressure breaks everything down, but Singleton did his job.
The pass pro rep against Iowa is a thing of beauty. It’s exactly what you want to see from a running back in that role.
Hopefully Singleton can get a clean bill of health soon, because there’s a lot to like about his game.
CONCLUSION
Overall, Singleton reminds me so much of former Arizona Cardinals Pro Bowl running back David Johnson. They have a similar build (Johnson was 6-foot-1, 221 pounds) and skill sets.
Singleton catches the football well out of the backfield and is comfortable aligning anywhere offensively. He tracks the ball well down the field, and in a more pro-style offense, should be a major mismatch for linebackers and safeties in coverage. He needs to land in a gap scheme, though, one that allows him to attack north-south consistently. That’s not to say he can’t thrive in a zone scheme, but he’s at his absolute best attacking downhill, rather than working laterally and looking for seams.
He projects as a true three-down running back for me, one that can step in quickly as a go-to guy. But he’s also shown the ability to share duties and take advantage of opportunities to create splash in a limited role, too. With his foot injury and subsequent surgery, he’s a late Day 2 talent that probably drops to the third day and ends up being a real bargain.
NFL Projection: Late Day 2
Steelers Depot Grade: 8.0MED
Grade Range: 7.8-8.6
Games Watched: Oregon (2024), Boise State (2024), Notre Dame (2024), Indiana (2025), Iowa (2025), Nebraska (2025), Rutgers (2025)
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