Singleton tries to pump brakes on the hype train
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. » Nick Singleton sat on the dais next to Bryce Young during a press conference Friday at Harrah’s, which was not by accident.
Two years ago, Young received the Maxwell Football Club’s High School Offensive Player of the Year award before the Alabama quarterback went on to win the Heisman Trophy and Maxwell Award as the nation’s top college player last season.
Singleton was to receive the same high school award Friday night at the Maxwell gala at Harrah’s. If the former Gov. Mifflin standout follows a path similar to Young’s, Penn State and its fans will be thrilled.
He tried to pump the brakes on all the buzz.
“I see a lot of that, people talking about me and stuff,” said Singleton, who enrolled at Penn State in January. “I just keep my head down and stay humble. ‘Lot o. Since I’m in college now, I’m starting from the bottom again. I have to work to be better.”
Singleton and the Nittany Lions begin spring practice Monday, and perhaps no one is more excited. He will compete with veteran running backs Keyvone Lee, Devyn Ford and Caziah Holmes and fellow freshman Kaytron Allen.
“I can’t wait for Monday,” Singleton said. “I’ve been thinking about it ever since I left. Spring ball is here. I just can’t wait to play and compete for the job.”
Singleton received rave reviews from Penn State running backs coach Ja’Juan Seider and director of strength and performance Chuck Losey III during winter conditioning.
“We got a couple guys who have really stood out,” Losey said earlier this month. “You talk about Nick Singleton and (freshman defensive tackle) Zane Durant. They’ve done some really good things ever since being on campus, so I’m really pleased with them.”
Singleton built a reputation in Berks County for his weight training and conditioning at Garage Strength near Fleetwood, where he has worked out since he was in middle school.
“The people at Garage Strength trained me hard,” he said. “But the winter workouts (at Penn State) were crazy. I never did workouts like those in my life. It was a great experience. I got a lot of work in.
“It was really just the team bonding and pushing each other to be great.”
Listed at 6-0 and 215 pounds on Penn State’s roster, Singleton said Lee, Ford and Holmes have taught him formations, blocking schemes and running schemes going into the 15 spring practices, which conclude with the BlueWhite Game April 23.
“They’ve all been a really big help,” he said.
It hasn’t been announced yet, but Singleton will wear No. 10 at Penn State like he did at Gov. Mifflin.
A five-star recruit, he finished his high school career with 6,326 rushing yards and 116 touchdowns, both Berks records. Last season, he ran for 2,059 yards, scored 44 TDs and led the Mustangs (10-1) to the Berks Football League Section 1 title and District 3 Class 5A final.
Since a season-ending loss to Exeter in the district final, he has been named the Gatorade National Offensive Player of the Year; the Adidas All-American Bowl Offensive Player of the Year; the Gatorade Pennsylvania Player of the Year; and Mr. PA Football for big schools, which was recently announced.
Singleton is the first player to win three high school awards from the Maxwell Club: the national award, the Jim Henry Award as the outstanding player in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware; and the Pennsylvania Player of the Year Award.
He is the first Penn State player to be named the Maxwell’s High School Offensive Player of the Year in the 15year history of the award.
“They mean a lot,” Singleton said. “I won them with the help of my teammates, my coaches and my family. Without all of them, I wouldn’t be sitting here with all of these awards.”
Gov Mifflin coach Jeff Lang and several of his assistants were expected to attend the gala. Singleton was accompanied Friday by his parents, Timmy and Nichole, and his three siblings.
“It’s amazing,” Timmy Singleton said, “thinking about youth football and the work he’s put in. To get to this point and to be recognized is special. I’m happy for him and everybody who’s helped him along the way, his family, his coaches, his teachers, his friends, everybody who has pitched in to help Nicholas.
“I always try to remind him that you never do anything by yourself. I really don’t have words. I’m still looking around trying to enjoy it.”
Singleton has no regrets about enrolling early at Penn State. He said he’s learning the playbook and bonding with his new teammates. He plans to attend Mifflin’s prom and graduation.
Friday, however, was for celebrating his special high school football career.
He was to be honored Friday night with Young, Georgia defensive tackle Jordan Davis (Bednarik Award as the nation’s top defensive player), Georgia tight end Brock Bowers (freshman of the year), Baylor’s Dave Aranda (national coach of the year), Pitt’s Pat Narduzzi (regional coach of the year), Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor (Bert Bell Award as NFL MVP) and Philadelphia Eagles Hall of Famer Brian Dawkins (Legends Award).
“It’s going to be crazy,” Singleton said of the gala. “I can’t wait. I know we’re going to have a lot of fun with all the support I have. It’s going to feel good.”