Just like that. One, then quickly the other. Both Penn State backs were coming back.
They did so on Jan. 13 — only four days after the Nittany Lions lost to Notre Dame, 27-24, in the College Football Playoff semifinals at the Orange Bowl. That’s the day running backs Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen independently posted on Instagram that they were returning for a final season of Penn State football in 2025.
Both were eschewing the 2025 NFL Draft, even though Mel Kiper Jr. had them rated as the No. 5 and 6 ranked eligible running backs after both ran for over 1,000 yards in 2024.
On Tuesday evening, after Penn State’s seventh official spring practice, Singleton shared that they both made their decisions independently of each other. Though they did inform their fellow PSU RB that they were coming back to Happy Valley before hitting IG.
For Singleton, The Decision was multi-faceted. And included the need to improve both his running skills and his draft standing, as well as having a shot at some Penn State career records and maybe even making a run at the Heisman Trophy.
So, there was no one Single(ton) reason. In fact, there were at least 10:
NUMBER 10’s TOP 10:
1. Another run at No. 1. Penn State’s loss to the Fighting Irish in the final seven seconds cut deep, so close to the CFP title game in Atlanta. But so far. It didn’t sit well with veteran players like Nick Dawkins, Dani Dennis-Sutton, Zane Durant, Drew Allar, Allen…and Singleton. What Nick says: “Most players that we came in with as freshmen, they’re coming back to compete for a national championship. Just how the season ended — everybody was upset.”
2. Singleton gave declaring for the NFL Draft some serious consideration — after three seasons in college he was eligible — but he and his family decided it was his best option. For him. What Nick says: “We sat down and it went both right and left. But at the same time, I figured what I needed the most and what my family needed the most was not leaving.”
3. To be more NFL-ready, Singleton needs to be more effective running downfield. What Penn State head coach James Franklin says: “With Nick, a lot of it is the open-field running. A little more creativity in his game. He’s been a guy who is obviously extremely strong, extremely explosive, extremely fast. But we want him to work on those open-field runs so he can get more 80-yard, 90-yard runs — which we think he is capable of getting. It’s a lot of that stuff — open-field running cutting back, hurdling, setting runs up, setting defenders up.”
4. Yeah, what Franklin said. What Nick says: Franklin “talked to me about that, too. When we get to the third level, getting past the safety. Because when you get past the safety, it’s a touchdown.”
5. In Singleton’s reach is Penn State’s career rushing record of 3,932 yards, set by Evan Royster. Singleton has 2,912 yards. What Nick says: “…It would be a big honor. I can’t wait to get it, but I have to keep on working toward it.”
6. “Do you know how many yards you need to get the record?” I asked Singleton. He shook his head no. I shared: “1,021.” What Nick says: “That’s doable.”
7. Not the money. Singleton was adamant that it wasn’t about the money he can earn with NIL and new revenue-sharing monies to be paid by Penn State athletics. What Nick says: “It wasn’t really about the money. It would have been there anyway. That’s one thing I talked about with my parents. The money doesn’t matter. I’m not coming back for the money.”
8. It’s the bigger money, improving to get higher — and perhaps go in the first round — of the 2026 Draft that impacted his decision. What Nick says: “I’m coming back to find stuff and do stuff to get better at before I end up in the draft.”
9. Singleton wants to get better as a runner, receiver, blocker and return man (he said he expects to return kicks again in 2025). He’s so good with the ball that he could very well surpass Saquon Barkley (5,538 yards) as Penn State’s all-time all-purpose player. Singleton has 4,673 yards (2,912 run, 768 receive, 993 return). That’s just 866 yards from breaking Saquon’s record. What Nick says: “I want to be a third-down back, catching the ball, running it, blocking. To get that [record] number would be phenomenal, especially at Penn State.”
10. The Heisman Trophy. What Nick says: “It definitely is at the back of my mind. It’s a hard task, but you are always looking forward to it. You watch the Heisman on TV, seeing all the great players. You dream about it. But you have to keep working on it to make it a reality.”
