The status of Penn State’s leading rusher is up in the air ahead of Saturday’s matchup with UCLA. Nick Singleton, who leads the Nittany Lions with 408 rushing yards and five total touchdowns, was absent from the team’s practice viewing session on Wednesday. James Franklin, asked about Singleton’s status after practice, said he had no update “at this stage.”
Franklin was asked if there’s anything further he can disclose about Singleton’s situation. “No,” he said.
Singleton’s absence comes a day after he spoke to reporters and five days after he took 16 carries for 94 rushing yards and a score in a 21-7 win over Illinois. It remains unclear what the reason was for his absence — whether it’s injury, illness, personal matter or otherwise — or what his status will be entering the weekend.
If Singleton is to miss time — and again, it’s unknown if he will — Kaytron Allen is likely to become Penn State’s primary ball carrier. Allen and Singleton have split snaps since joining the program ahead of the 2022 season. On Saturday, they joined Franco Harris and Lydell Mitchell as the second set of teammates to eclipse 2,000 career rushing yards with the Nittany Lions.
“To see him playing the way he’s playing right now is awesome,” Franklin said of Allen on Monday. “And then also to see him and Nick — they’re both fairly quiet guys, very different kinds of personalities, but both quiet — showing emotion and having fun and being supportive of each other, … I’m proud of him.”
Penn State has been top-heavy at running back since Singleton and Allen began playing as freshmen three seasons ago. But, the team is already thin at depth after third-string Cam Wallace sustained a “long-term” injury against Kent State two weeks ago. If Singleton is ruled inactive on Saturday, that would likely mean more playing time for a pair of true freshmen.
Quinton Martin Jr. handled the majority of the ground work after Wallace exited against the Golden Flashes. He has presumably stepped into Wallace’s third-string role since, and would likely back up Allen in the instance that Singleton is unable to play. Corey Smith, who has yet to make his collegiate debut, would then serve as the No. 3 back.
“I think both of those guys, specifically Quinton, are preparing (and) ready to play,” Franklin said. “But we’ll just see how this thing plays out.”
