Fear not, Penn State fans.
One of the team’s best players is “fine and expected to play” against UCLA Saturday, per a report by Matt Zenitz of 247Sports.
Penn State standout running back Nick Singleton, whose status for this week was in question after not being present for the media viewing period of practice Wednesday, is fine and expected to play vs. UCLA tomorrow, sources tell @247Sports/@CBSSports https://t.co/Oyyq6wb6Wo pic.twitter.com/EPlpDXKwlY
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) October 4, 2024
Penn State, a four-touchdown favorite, would almost certainly beat UCLA without Nick Singleton but it certainly helps to have him in the fold.
For a few days, many wondered if Singleton would be in the fold. He wasn’t seen Wednesday during the media’s weekly practice viewing window. At coach James Franklin’s post-practice scrum, the Penn State boss predictably didn’t give any insight into his player’s status. The following afternoon, RB coach Ja’Juan Seider was asked about Singleton, and like Franklin, didn’t give anything away.
Now, it’s apparent that Singleton will play.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.Through four games, Singleton’s rushed for 408 yards and three touchdowns, averaging 7.2 yards per carry. He’s been effective in the passing game, catching six balls for 82 yards and two scores, and, as we saw Saturday night, is also doing things that don’t appear on the box score.
Singleton prides himself on the work he’s put in toward doing everything well.
“I’m trying to be a complete back,” he told reporters via Zoom Wednesday. “Blocking, I want to do that, too, work on that. My speed, I worked on that the whole offseason. And catching the ball out of the backfield. Being a complete back. That was really my goal throughout the offseason, just working on stuff like that. I feel like you can see it during the games, but obviously still stuff I need to improve on. So I just have to keep working on it.”
Penn State is set to take on UCLA Saturday at noon on Fox. UCLA could be without starting QB Ethan Garbers.
Even better for Penn State, this means that, barring anything crazy, Penn State will have Singleton for its showdown at No. 11 USC Oct. 12. Kickoff for that one is scheduled for 3:30 on CBS.
