MIAMI — Penn State ‘s postgame locker room was, aside from an expletive or two, silent. The Nittany Lions were less than an hour removed from losing to Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff semifinal. There were hugs. There were tears.
Standing off to the side was Penn State offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki. He was having a moment to himself before one of his star players walked over and embraced him.
It was Nick Singleton, Penn State’s star running back who shined in the 27-24 loss in the Orange Bowl. Singleton scored three touchdowns and accounted for 117 total yards against the Irish. Kotelnicki hugged him back and reiterated three words to the junior: “I love you.”
The Orange Bowl might have been the last time Singleton suited up for Penn State. He has an NFL decision to make in the near future with the draft declaration date rapidly approaching. On Thursday night, Singleton wasn’t interested in talking about what lies ahead.
“I don’t even know yet what I’m doing next year,” Singleton said, sitting next to James Franklin and quarterback Drew Allar in the Hard Rock Stadium media room. “I’m worried about being with Drew, Coach Franklin, all my teammates right now, just spending time. Because it’s not going to be the same team. Whenever that happens, it happens.”
Everyone in Penn State’s locker room and throughout the fan base would love to see Singleton return for his senior season. The former Governor Mifflin standout has been one of Penn State’s best players over the last three years, especially in the program’s biggest moments.
Singleton racked up 2,912 rushing yards, 768 receiving yards and 41 touchdowns since arriving as a five-star freshman in 2022. In six career postseason games, he accounted for 696 scrimmage yards (8.9 yards per touch) and nine touchdowns.
Singleton became a household name in the Rose Bowl, ripping off an 87-yard touchdown run to close the 2022 season. He had a 48-yard touchdown catch in the Peach Bowl vs. Ole Miss. He had 148 total yards against Oregon in the Big Ten championship game. And in three CFP games, he totaled 261 rushing yards and five touchdowns.
Singleton was a reason why Penn State nearly beat Notre Dame. With a spot in the national championship game on the line, the Shillington native rushed for 84 yards and three scores, tying an Orange Bowl record, and chipped in two catches for 33 yards.
Some will point to Singleton’s goal-to-go drop in the first quarter when Allar’s pass came up a bit short. But on the whole, Singleton was the explosive player Penn State needed him to be. His first touchdown gave Penn State a 10-0 lead. His second score tied it at 17-17. And his third touchdown put the Nittany Lions ahead 24-17, with less than eight minutes to go.
Scouts surely took note of Singleton’s impact. Before the Orange Bowl, ESPN ranked Singleton as the No. 5 RB and the No. 67 overall prospect in the 2025 draft. That puts him on the fringe of the second round — and that’s before he likely puts on a show at the combine.
We’ll find out soon if Singleton will leave for the NFL this year or next. If the Orange Bowl was his Penn State farewell, Singleton left the way he arrived: a game-changer. And if he comes back, his play-making ability — and the possibility of him getting even better — will be a massive source of optimism for the Nittany Lions entering the 2025 campaign.
“The lights’ going on for him,” running backs coach Ja’Juan Seider said. “People think I’m kidding when I say his best football is ahead of him. You’re starting to see it on display.”