Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1531683
2 4 F E B R U A R Y 2 0 2 5 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M vaunted defense. It was one of his best performances of the year, but it hadn't been enough. A late interception by ju- nior quarterback Drew Allar had given the Fighting Irish an opportunity to kick the decisive field goal in the final sec- onds, and just like that, the season was over. It appeared as though Singleton's col- lege career might be over, too. He had another season of eligibility remaining, but was he really going to use it? No one could say, including Singleton himself. Still reeling from the loss, he confessed during the postgame presser that he had no idea whether he'd be back. "I don't know what I'm doing next year," he said. "I'm worried about be- ing with Drew, Coach Franklin, all my teammates right now, just spending time. Because it's not going to be the same team as last year." Singleton was right, of course. Penn State, which finished 13-3 in James Franklin's 11th season with the program, won't be the same team in 2025. However, by the time the anticipated wave of stay-or-go announcements had passed in mid-January, Penn State found itself looking a lot more recogniz- able than anyone might have guessed only a few days earlier. Many of the players who could have declared for the NFL Draft or entered the transfer portal opted instead to stay. Singleton was one of them. He announced via social media Singleton was Penn State's most effective offensive player in the Orange Bowl, totaling 84 yards rushing and scoring 3 touchdowns against Notre Dame. PHOTO COURTESY PENN STATE ATHLETICS P enn State had just lost to Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff semifinals, and players were still processing their emo- tions, seemingly stuck somewhere be- tween disbelief and dejection, when they were ushered onto a stage in the media room for the postgame press conference. One of those players was Nicholas Singleton. The junior running back had done everything in his power to extend Penn State's season, totaling 84 yards rushing and scoring all 3 of the team's touchdowns against Notre Dame's Running Running It Back It Back Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen will continue their highly productive partnership in 2025 M AT T H E R B | M AT T. H E R B @ O N 3 . C O M