Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
He’s motoring toward Tebow territory
FAU’s Singletary needs 3 more rushing TDs to tie ex-Florida star
BOCA RATON — We know Florida Atlantic running back Devin “Motor” Singletary scores a lot of touchdowns, but exactly how prolific is the junior when his scoring prowess is put in historical perspective?
Singletary, with 54 rushing touchdowns, is tied for 22nd – with Pro Football Hall of Famer LaDainian Tomlinson – on the alltime list for the NCAA’s Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A). Tomlinson amassed his total from 1997-2000 with TCU before becoming an NFL star with the San Diego Chargers.
Singletary propelled himself into the top 25 by scoring three times on the ground in Friday night’s loss at No. 13 Central Florida, giving him 10 this season — which leads the nation. He also is closing in on several other bigname players on the all-time list.
As FAU (2-2) opens Conference USA play against Middle Tennessee (Saturday, 7 p.m.), Singletary can move into a tie for 19th with three others, including Tony Dorsett (Pittsburgh, 1973-76), with his first rushing touchdown. With two rushing touchdowns, Singletary will move into a four-way tie for 16th. With three rushing touchdowns, he will tie Marshall Faulk (San Diego State, 1991-93) and Tim Tebow (Florida, 2006-09) for 14th with 57.
“I looked at the list and I’ve seen who’s on it,” Singletary said after
Wednesday’s practice. “That’s big time. That definitely shows that all the hard work that we’re putting in, it’s paying off. We just got to keep at it.
“I do believe I’m blessed with a nose for the end zone, but it’s a mindset. It’s just the will to win has got to be greater than anything, so on that play, on that drive, whatever it is, we just got to win. A win is scoring points and definitely scoring touchdowns.”
Even more impressive may be how quickly Singletary is shooting up the list. Only one rusher is higher than him while having played as many or fewer games. Steve Owens (Oklahoma, 1967-69) has 56, two ahead of Singletary, in the same number of games (30). Faulk’s 57 was achieved in 31 games. “He’s got a unique way of finding the end zone,” Owls coach Lane Kiffin said. “Most in the country last year (32), third most all-time [for a single season], and he’s got 10 already this year. Just says a lot.”
If Singletary matches last year’s total of 32, which is modest considering he would need 22 over 10 games if FAU reaches the Conference USA championship and ensuing bowl game, he would be third on the FBS’s all-time list and one behind No. 2 Montee Ball of Wisconsin with 76. He would also crush the record for any player through three years of college football.
Other notable names ahead of Singletary are Ricky Williams (Texas), Cedric Benson (Texas), Ron Dayne (Wisconsin), Royce Freeman (Oregon), Eric Crouch (Nebraska) and Colin Kaepernick (Nevada).
The all-time leader is Navy’s Keenan Reynolds, who scored 88 rushing touchdowns as quarterback of the Midshipmen’s triple-option offense from 2012 to 2015.