Penn State head coach James Franklin expressed strong confidence that running back Nicholas Singleton will be ready to play in Saturday’s game against USC, following his absence in the first game of his career. Singleton, who is the team’s leading rusher, missed the Nittany Lions’ 27-11 win over UCLA after being sidelined just before the game.
“We’re very confident, and I believe Nick feels the same after speaking with him on Sunday,” Franklin said during his Monday press conference.
While Franklin typically avoids discussing specific injuries, Singleton sustained his injury during the team’s 21-7 win against Illinois, where he rushed for 94 yards and a touchdown. Although he missed practice on Tuesday and Wednesday, he returned for sessions on Thursday and Friday.
On the Big Ten availability report, Singleton was listed as “questionable” and participated in pregame warmups. After discussions with the running backs coach and head trainer, it was decided he would not play against UCLA.
“He wasn’t at full strength, but we thought he might play against UCLA,” Franklin noted. “The good news is he was close to returning, and if there are no setbacks this week, I expect him to practice Tuesday and Wednesday.”
Without Singleton, the fourth-ranked Nittany Lions (5-0) struggled to establish their run game against UCLA, managing only 85 yards, significantly below their season average of 251 yards per game. Singleton, who had played in 30 consecutive games prior to last Saturday, averages 102 rushing yards per game and ranks fifth in the Big Ten with 7.7 yards per carry.
His presence is crucial for Penn State’s offense, as he is their most explosive runner, starting the season with two consecutive 100-yard games and ranking seventh in the Big Ten for average yards from scrimmage.
“It felt different not having him out there,” said Penn State running back Kaytron Allen, who had 78 yards against UCLA. “He’ll be fine; he’s going to be good.”
Singleton’s return is vital for a team dealing with numerous injuries this season. Penn State had 16 players listed as “out” against UCLA, with only UCLA having more at 18. The team has faced “long-term” injuries to key players, including safety KJ Winston and tight end Andrew Rappleyea.
Franklin remarked on the high number of season-ending injuries, emphasizing the importance of developing depth in the roster. The injuries have also accelerated the development of young players like freshmen Dejaun Lane and Quinton Martin Jr.
“We’ve adopted a ‘next man up’ mentality,” Franklin stated, adding that while they want to maximize playing time for young players, they must also be strategic to avoid affecting their long-term development.
Penn State is set to face USC on Saturday at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, with kickoff scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS.
Leave a Reply