Penn State‘s Nicholas Singleton is one of the top running back prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft, with a well-rounded skill set that could make him the focal point of a pro offense early in his career. A foot injury suffered during the predraft process could impact his stock, but at full strength, he could prove to be a bargain pick if he’s still on the board when Day 3 rolls around.

Here’s everything NFL fans need to know about Singleton heading into this year’s draft:

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Nicholas Singleton’s Vitals

Height: 6-0

Weight: 224

Age: 21

Nicholas Singleton’s Strengths

A well-built runner, Singleton has a dangerous blend of size, speed and power that makes him a headache for opposing defenders to bring down. He’s an explosive north/south back who does his best work coming downhill with a full head of steam, getting to the second level with impressive acceleration for a bigger runner, and blasting through arm tackles. He displays patience when waiting for blocks to materialize before making that decisive cut upfield, and shows nimble feet when navigating traffic between the tackles. As a pass-catcher out of the backfield, Singleton possesses reliable hands and the ability to challenge defenders in the open field with his speed and strength. He puts his powerful frame to good use in pass protection, and has proven experience as a productive return man.

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Nicholas Singleton’s Weaknesses

Singleton’s short-area quickness is limited by his lack of ideal hip fluidity, which doesn’t match his quick footwork, leaving opportunities on the table when changing direction in tight spaces to try and lose defenders with lateral movement. Similarly, his inconsistent vision can counteract his patience when sifting through blocks and looking for the right cutback lane. In the open field, he relies more on pure speed and power to try and force missed tackles, lacking the agility to make defenders miss with quick changes of direction. Singleton suffered a broken foot during Senior Bowl practices, so his recovery will be closely monitored throughout the predraft process.

Final Analysis

With his NFL-ready frame and a skill set that brings both top-end speed and pure power to the table, Singleton already has a high floor for NFL success based purely on those physical traits. If he can improve his core fluidity to match his footwork, and his vision to match his patience, Singleton could develop into a featured back who can make an impact in every phase of the game.

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2026 NFL Draft Projection: 3rd/4th Round

This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Mar 27, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.