Penn State football coach James Franklin expressed confidence Monday in running back Nick Singleton, who hasn’t been as explosive as he has been throughout his career.
Singleton, a former high school star at Gov. Mifflin, has carried 41 times for 179 yards, a 4.4 average and five touchdowns through the first three games. He also has caught five passes for 44 yards. He does not yet have a rush longer than 16 yards.
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Last season, he averaged 6.4 yards per carry and had six runs of at least 24 yards.
“Nick worked really hard on some things in the offseason in terms of open-field running and some different tools and weapons,” Franklin said. “On Saturdays I want him to let it rip and play, fast, powerful and explosive, which is his style. He’s a downhill, full-speed back.
“I think you’re going to see that from him.”
Singleton rushed for 1,099 yards last season, the second 1,000-yard season of his career. He ran for 1,061 yards and averaged 6.8 per carry as a freshman in 2022 before slipping to 752 and 4.4 two years ago.
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Last year, he carried 10 times for 105 yards and caught four passes for 43 yards against Oregon in a 45-37 loss in the Big Ten title game. The sixth-ranked Ducks (1-0 Big Ten, 4-0) visit No. 3 Penn State (3-0) for the White Out Game Saturday at 7:30 p.m. (TV-NBC).
“It’s him trying to be a perfect back,” Franklin said about Singleton’s modest numbers this season. “You’re never gonna be a perfect back. He just has to go play.
“I have a lot of confidence and a lot of trust in Nick Singleton and what he’s going to be able to do for us not only this Saturday but all season long.”
Kaytron Allen, Singleton’s backfield mate and roommate, is off to a flying start, carrying 34 times for 273 yards (8.0 average) and three TDs after running for 1,108 yards last season.
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“You’re seeing the work Kaytron did in the offseason,” Franklin said, “and now his ability to go the distance. His yards per carry are as impressive as anybody in the country.”
Penn State ranks 44th nationally in rushing with 193.7 yards per game.
Thoughts on Pry: Franklin expressed support for longtime assistant coach Brent Pry, who was fired as Virginia Tech head coach earlier this month.
Pry was on Franklin’s staffs at Vanderbilt and Penn State from 2011-21, serving the last six seasons as the Nittany Lions defensive coordinator.
Virginia Tech fired him after a 45-26 home loss to Old Dominion and former Penn State offensive coordinator Ricky Rahne. Pry’s record in three-plus seasons was 16-24.
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“I think you guys know what Brent Pry and that family have meant to me and what I think about them,” Franklin said. “Brent’s dad (Jim) was my offensive coordinator in college (at East Stroudsburg). We go back forever.
“You hate to see it for anybody. I hate to see it for Brent. I hate to see it for Virginia Tech. Brent is resilient. He’s a darned good football coach. He’ll bounce back. I have a lot of respect and love for Brent and his family.”
UCLA kickoff is set: Penn State’s Big Ten game Oct. 4 against UCLA at the Rose Bowl will have a 3:30 p.m. kickoff and will be televised nationally by CBS.
It will be the second Lions game carried by CBS this season.
