Nick Singleton 2026 NFL Draft: scouting report for Penn State, RB

Just how high can former Penn State RB Nick Singleton go in the 2026 NFL Draft?

Ryan Roberts — National College Football Writer

Feb 19, 2026 1:17 PM EST

Penn State running back Nick Singleton (10) carries the ball in the second half of an NCAA football game against Kent State, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in State College, Pa.

Height: 6-0

Weight: 221

Year: Senior

Pro Comparison: Lamar Miller

2026 NFL Combine Results

Nick Singleton, Penn State, RB

Broad Jump: N/A
20-Yard Shuttle: N/A
3-Cone: N/A
Hand Size: N/A
Arm Length: N/A
40-Yard Dash: N/A
Vertical Leap: N/A

Pros of Nick Singleton

Singleton possesses a tremendous combination of explosiveness and long speed; acceleration to hit home runs when given a crease
Ability to hit the edge, as well as one-cut ability, makes Singleton the perfect fit into an outside zone system; boasts speed to eliminate angles
Has easy receiving ability out of the backfield; combines natural hands with explosiveness to create some chunk plays
One of the better pass protectors in the entire 2026 running back class; possesses a strong base with intent
Natural power once Singleton gets downhill; shows the ability to create momentum/speed to generate imposing power once he breaks the field level
Natural athleticism and age still give you hope for a developmental upside; finding the right fit will be paramount

Cons of Nick Singleton

Lack of vision as a runner is extremely troubling, lacking the general nuance to find open space as a traditional running back
Singleton lacks some tightness as a runner; very straight-line athlete who doesn’t have the general flexibility to change direction quickly
Coming off of his worst season in college; was never able to develop into the player that his athleticism would suggest

Background

If you think back to the 2022 recruiting class, Singleton was ranked extremely high, specifically inside the top-50 for each of the major recruiting classes. On the 247 Sports Composite ranking, Singleton finished as a five-star, the No. 31 overall player, the No. 1 running back, and the No. 1 player from the state of Pennsylvania for the 2022 recruiting class. Singleton is from Reading (Pa.) Governor Mifflin, which gave the Nittany Lions the inside track to land the talented runner. It was still considered a tremendous win for Penn State, beating out the likes of Notre Dame, Ohio State, Alabama, Michigan, Florida, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Tennessee, USC, Auburn, Florida State, South Carolina, Louisville, Iowa State, Arizona State, Michigan State, Boston College, Wisconsin, NC State, Maryland, Pitt, UNC, Duke, Syracuse, Vanderbilt, Virginia, Virginia Tech, West Virginia, Rutgers, and Northwestern, among others.

Singleton became a notable performer for Penn State as soon as he arrived in Happy Valley. In four seasons with the team, Singleton managed to play in 53 total games. During that stretch, he rushed for 3,461 yards and 45 rushing touchdowns. Singleton also hauled in 102 receptions for 987 yards and nine more scores in the passing game. He was selected as an All-Big Ten honoree in three different seasons. Singleton participated at the 2026 Panini Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama. Has a strong track and field background while in high school. He majored in recreation, park, and tourism management while at Penn State.

Player Evaluation

From a combination of size, speed, and explosiveness, Singleton has everything you could want at the running back position. He is a runaway freight train once he gets momentum going, having the homerun speed to create some chunk plays. That speed also allows Singleton to eliminate angles to the perimeter. With Singleton’s ability to hit the edge, as well as his one-cut ability, he projects perfectly to an outside zone running scheme. When he is able to get his foot into the group, Singleton has a propensity to create some explosive runs. He is also an incredibly powerful runner once he gets his momentum going. Singleton is also one of the better receiving backs in the 2026 class. He possesses soft hands and explosiveness to create some big plays as a receiver. Add in the fact that he is a very good pass protector, and that creates a sound floor on the NFL level. While Singleton didn’t develop as well as some had hoped, he still has an athletic ceiling to get excited about.

With a lot of hype going into last season, Singleton ended up having the worst season of his college career. He was never able to develop into the player that his athleticism would suggest. The general lack of vision as a runner is an extremely troubling dilemma to work around. The nuance of playing the running back position just isn’t there right now. He does a poor job of finding space and navigating blocking schemes effectively. There is also some tightness as a runner, limiting Singleton’s ability to change direction in tight quarters. That lack of flexibility does limit Singleton’s upside in terms of run game diversity. While there is still some underlying developmental upside with Singleton, the deficiencies he possesses do limit him quite a bit.