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Penn State RB Nick Singleton adds another big honor

nate-mug-10.12.14by: Nate Bauer01/20/22NateBauerBWI
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Penn State running back Nick Singleton was named the Maxwell Football Club Offensive National High School Football Player of the Year.

Now enrolled at Penn State, freshman running back Nick Singleton hasn’t stopped collecting honors.

Announced Thursday morning, the Maxwell Football Club named Singleton its Offensive National High School Player of the Year. Singleton was honored over fellow finalists, Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik and Arizona receiver Tetairoa McMillan.

Nick Singleton’s reaction

Named as the award’s recipient, Singleton released a statement thanking the award and crediting the people who helped make the achievement possible.

“I am very grateful for winning the Maxwell High School Offensive National Player of the Year. I am pleased all of the hard work I put in is paying off. This would not be possible without the support of my family, coaches, and teammates. With everything we accomplished this past season, my Governor Mifflin High School coaches and teammates are just as deserving of this award as I am. They have all been there for me every step of the way. I would also like to thank the Maxwell Football Club for honoring me with
this special recognition.”

The honor adds to what amounted to a highly decorated high school career for the former Shillington, Pa., product.

Also named the Gatorade National Player of the Year, Singleton’s performance helped lift Governor Mifflin to an 8-1 record his senior year with the Mustangs. Ripping off 44 rushing touchdowns and 2,059 yards on the ground, Singleton added to a high school career that finished with 6,326 yards and 116 touchdowns. 

Rising through the recruiting ranks in the process, breaking out on a national scale during a junior season that included 1,311 yards on the ground and 22 touchdowns on just 107 carries, Singleton eventually committed to Penn State last July. The pick for the Nittany Lions was over the likes of Ohio State, Notre Dame, and Northwestern, among dozens of other scholarship offers. 

Penn State expectations

Most recently performing at the All-American Bowl – and winning its top honor as well – Singleton was recognized by On3 national recruiting analyst Charles Power as one of the elite performers during the week of practices.  

“Penn State signee Nick Singleton (No. 21) is the lone five-star back in the On300 and continues to look like the cream of the crop. The 6-foot, 215-pounder pairs an ideal build with one of the best bursts in the 2022 cycle,” Power wrote. “Singleton thoroughly impressed at the All-American Bowl despite the limitations of the practice setting. He also showed soft hands and some natural receiving ability out of the backfield. This supplements his sterling on-field resume, that saw him named the Gatorade National Player of the Year as a senior. There looks to be a decent gap between Singleton and the next running back in the cycle.”

Now enrolled at Penn State, Singleton is participating with the Nittany Lions in winter workouts ahead of a spring practice session in March and April that is critical to his development. 

Noting the challenges and opportunity at hand for Singleton and fellow early enrollee running back Kaytron Allen before his transfer last week, fourth-year Noah Cain offered his expectations for the weeks and months ahead.

“I think for any top recruit, everybody has different ways of being hungry. At this level, everything’s not going to go as we planned or as perfect as you may predict. I think they’re going to be more motivated than ever to work. Growing pains I had personally coming in were just really trying to pick up on the offense to get used to the speed of the game. But everybody’s situation is different. Being around Nick, I think he’s a smart football player. He’s working hard, he’s kind of quiet. They definitely understand what it takes to be the best at what they have to do. The season Nick had was crazy.”