2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Nicholas Singleton, RB, Penn State
- Player: Nicholas Singleton
- Position: RB
- School: Penn State
- Exposures (2024 games): v. OHST, ILUN, VAWV
Senior. Starts at tailback. Big and strong with a thick frame that is used to run through contact; developed upper and lower body. Very versatile, more of a complete tailback – consistently displays good hands as a receiver and occasionally aligns at X/Z, used in motion a lot, good hands out of the backfield, also very good in pass protection, can drop his hips and hit when he wants to.
Displays good vision and patience to follow blocks. Decisive, straight-line runner who wastes no time getting vertical. Good initial burst through the hole. Finishes forward on contact, effective in short yardage. Better inside runner than outside runner. Key issue is speed – just lacks an extra gear and doesn’t strike me as a home-run threat.
He does not have much wiggle or change-of-direction, and gets caught from behind too easily if he finds a crease. Doesn’t have ability to make defenders miss and isn’t effective to change direction. Most of his big runs are blocked for him; doesn’t have much ability to create or work on his own.
Power Statement: Singleton is a very highly-ranked prospect by many in the media, but he lacks juice to be a legitimate first or second selection by a pro team unless he develops more speed ahead of the upcoming season.