Singletary handles hype
Owls star running back is expected to carry a heavy load this year
FAU star running back Devin Singletary, a possible Heisman candidate, is expected to carry a heavy load this year.
BOCA RATON — When he first saw it, Florida Atlantic running back Devin “Motor” Singletary immediately thought back to a conversation he had with his mother and sister after graduating high school.
They told him one day his likeness would appear on a billboard. At the time, he never expected it, but now it is a reality. A junior, Singletary is the face of the FAU program and the first player in school history with Heisman Trophy aspirations. Two billboards sit alongside Interstate 95 with his likeness accompanied by the words “Heisman In Paradise,” one in Broward and one in Palm Beach County.
“The crazy thing is my mom and my sister, they told me one day, ‘You’re going to have a billboard,’” Singletary said. “For it to actually happen, that’s crazy.”
Although he is considered a dark-horse candidate, the soft-spoken Singletary is enjoying every minute of the hype. His name is listed among college football’s elite players. He has brought attention to a program that is mostly known for its high-profile coaches, including Howard Schnellenberger and Lane Kiffin.
Singletary, who played at American Heritage-Delray, has joined them in the spotlight.
“Honestly, I feel like I’ve been weathering the storm pretty good,” Singletary said. “I’ve had a lot of help from my teammates and my coaches. I’m just enjoying it and embracing the process.”
Last year Singletary made a name for himself by rushing for 1,920 yards and leading the nation with 32 touchdowns. He was a key cog in the Owls finishing 11-3, capturing the Conference USA championship and winning their first bowl game in a decade.
After becoming the school’s first Associated Press All-American, Singletary grabbed a host of preseason accolades. He is projected to repeat as the league’s most valuable player and was recently named the nation’s 50th-best player by ESPN.
Singletary, who normally shies away from attention, has made a change in his approach to the limelight. He’s actually enjoying it.
“It’s better to enjoy it than try to run away from it,” Singletary said. “That’s what comes with it … I was filled with joy, honestly. I know my teammates were happy. If I’m on the billboard, it’s basically like them on there. That’s how we feel.”
The 5-foot-9 Singletary is known on campus as simply “Motor.” He grabbed the nickname as a youngster from his father, Devonn, who was called it during his playing days at Norfolk State. They both played the same position.
“I was ‘Little Motor’ at first, but as I started playing football I just kind of carried it,” Singletary said.
Singletary holds virtually every FAU rushing record. He needs just 589 yards to break Alfred Morris’ mark of 3,529 and already has 17 more touchdowns (44) than anyone in the program’s existence. His touchdown total from last year was the third-most in NCAA history, trailing only NFL Hall of Famer Barry Sanders (37) and former Wisconsin running back Montee Ball (33).
What makes the feat more impressive is Singletary sat most of the fourth quarters because of the Owls’ dominance. During their 10-game winning streak to finish the season, they won all but one game by double digits.
“That’s the third-most touchdowns in the history of college football and he’s sitting on the bench in a lot of fourth quarters,” Kiffin said. “Arguably, if we were just trying to stat him up, he may have caught Barry.”
According to CBS Sports, Singletary is projected as a late first-round pick if he chooses to skip his senior season. Owls quarterback De’Andre Johnson, who began his career at Florida State, compared Singletary to former Seminoles star Dalvin Cook.
A second-round pick in 2017, Cook is now with the Minnesota Vikings.
“I would see Dalvin hit a hole, turn his shoulders, get skinny and saw Motor do it and I’m like, ‘This is him, this is some resemblance right here and now,”’ Johnson said. “I always told him that. Motor’s a special player, and I’m happy for the success that he’s had, I’m really looking forward to playing with him.”
Singletary begins his Heisman push Sept. 1 at No. 5 Oklahoma. Brigham Young quarterback Ty Detmer in 1990 was the last player from a Group of Five conference school to win the award.
While the biggest goal is improving on last year’s statistics and helping the team to another bowl game, Singletary is keeping the Heisman talk in perspective.
Yet an invite to New York for the ceremony would make the year even more special.
“I didn’t think I’d be in the Heisman race or anything like that,” Singletary said. “For it to take place, that’s special. That’d be very big, especially coming from a Group 5 [program]. I feel like that it will show them that it’s real ball, and that we can play with Power 5 schools.”