Two Penn State players named to ESPN's preseason All-America team

There’s been no shortage of Penn State players on various watchlists and preseason All-America teams in recent weeks. On Monday, ESPN joined the mix, announcing its preseason All-America team. It featured not one, but two Nittany Lion players in running back Nicholas Singleton and offensive lineman Vega Ioane.

“There’s no shortage of power and speed in Penn State’s running backs room,” wrote ESPN reporter Chris Low. “Singleton will team with Kaytron Allen to give the Nittany Lions the best one-two punch in the country. Singleton, a 6-foot, 224-pound senior, has started since his freshman season. He rushed for 1,099 yards this past year and averaged 6.4 yards per carry. He also caught 41 passes and accounted for 17 touchdowns (12 rushing, 5 receiving).”

For his career, Singleton has totaled 2,912 yards rushing and another 768 yards receiving, scoring 40 touchdowns combined. He’s also just over 1,000 yards away from breaking Evan Royster’s all-time career rushing yards record of 3,932 yards. Singleton’s teammate, running back Kayton Allen, could also break that record this season after totaling 2,877 yards rushing the past three seasons.

As for Ioane, he emerged last season as one of Penn State’s most consistent offensive linemen. After playing in all 13 games as a redshirt freshman in 2023, he backed that up by playing in all 16 last year, earning second-team All-Big Ten honors. He’s also considered one of the top NFL Draft prospects for interior offensive linemen heading into his redshirt junior season.

Link: Where does Penn State rank in the preseason Associated Press Poll?

Low added, “Ioane blossomed into one of the Big Ten’s best interior offensive linemen last year in his first full season as a starter. The redshirt junior has slimmed down to 330 pounds after playing closer to 350 this past season. With Ioane back, along with Singleton and Allen at running back, Penn State should have one of the top running games in college football.”

Both Singleton and Ioane earned preseason All-America honors from Sporting News and Walter Camp earlier this year. Both were also part of Phil Steele’s All-Big Ten team.

Singleton and Ioane were two of six Big Ten players to earn a spot on ESPN’s list. The Buckeyes also had two players make the list in wide receiver Jeremiah Smith and safety Caleb Downs. Illinois linebacker Gabe Jacas and Michigan place-kicker Dominic Zvada also made the cut.

Alabama and Clemson were tied for the most players to make the team, with three each. Penn State was tied with Notre Dame, Ohio State, Pitt and Texas with two players each.