Singleton: Penn State TD record 'meant a lot'
Penn State running back Nick Singleton talks about his recovery from surgery, his workout regimen, his role models, his time in Happy Valley, his experience playing with Kaytron Allen, his hobbies, his friends and more.
Video Transcript
Connor Rogers here at the NFL Combine alongside Lawrence Jackson and Penn State running back Nick Singleton.
Nick, how's the recovery going so far?
Yeah, it's been going good.
I got surgery, like, a couple weeks ago, so, you know, I'm going through the whole process.
But, you know, I'm feeling better, man, feeling good.
Yeah.
Well, we, we know you wanna get back to, at some point get back to working out, doing your thing, and specifically to working out, man.
Right.
Like, we, we know you one of them strong dudes out there.
Absolutely.
600-plus pounds on the squat, man.
but yet still you can You got a all-around game.
Led the Big Ten in all-purpose yards.
Who do you model your game after?
Yeah, I try to model my game after, you know, a lot of backs in the league, you know, Saquon, Christian McCaffrey, Jahmyr Gibbs, you know, 'cause I feel like they can do it all.
Yeah.
Run the ball obviously, catch the ball out the backfield, and be able to go block.
Yeah.
What is it with the Penn State program that gets guys This is a pipeline to the NFL.
Definitely.
You even brought up Saquon, obviously a, a great example with him being a running back.
But year after year we see guys with incredible weight room numbers, incredible tape.
What was it with that program that helped you get ready for this?
Yeah, I feel like the players, you know, they buying into the strength staff, you know, the strength staff was amazing, you know.
Lifted almost every day, so, you know, the work was really good.
And, like I said, everybody bought into it, so, you know, everything was really good.
Now, you and your running mate Kaytron Allen, y'all both came in together, you both played early, both ready to go to the league now.
What's interesting is in the NFL you see a lot of running back tandems, right?
Yes, sir.
You wanna keep guys fresh, and I feel like you two kinda already know how that works.
So how does that help you going into the next level?
Yeah, it helped us a lot.
You know, both of us deserve carries.
You know, that's my brother, man.
But, you know, coming in here, you know, being healthy, going to the league, like you said, so, you know, it matters a lot to us, you know.
Especially during our Penn- careers at Penn State, you know.
Yeah.
Staying healthy for the whole seasons and all that.
So it felt, felt good.
Yeah.
We've been asking guys about their routine during the actual football season, and we haven't gotten to talk to a lot of running backs about it yet.
What is it like for a running back?
'Cause obviously you probably wake up a little more sore than everybody else.
Right.
That's what, yeah.
But when that new week starts leading up all the way to game day, what is your routine like?
Yeah, my routine, you know, make sure I'm getting my body right.
So I'll go in that Monday, you know, 'cause we have an off day, doing stretches, ice tubs and all that.
Then we'll do film work with the running backs online.
I'm just constantly getting better, you know, doing more film back at home and stuff like that.
So that's kinda routine throughout the whole week and still taking care of my body.
Yeah, that's All, all that and the football stuff is great, obviously, that's why you here.
But outside of football, what are some of the things that you're into?
What's some of the things that get you going, get you hyped up, and just re- regular hobbies that you like to do?
Yeah.
Definitely.
You know, I hang out with my teammates sometimes.
You know, we'll go get some food, go out to eat.
Yeah.
You know, sometimes do a little bowling.
But- Bowling?
Yeah.
If I'm by myself, you know, I'll just watch TV, watch movies, or sometimes get on the game.
What, what's your highest score in bowling?
Highest score in bowling.
Do you- I ain't the best, yeah.
Have, have, have, have you ever hit a 200?
No, I ain't no 200.
I mean, okay.
I ain't the best, but I hit over 100, so.
But it is just a fun thing to do.
Fun thing to do.
Yeah.
Yes, sir.
Yeah, okay.
So you get to meet with all these teams here, and they know what you can do on the field already, and obviously will wait a little bit for the whole testing process.
Right.
But what are they looking for from you?
What do they wanna get to know about you?
Yeah, just really just getting to know me as a player.
You know, I can do everything.
You know, I'ma come in, work, work o- work hard, you know, and be a team player, man.
Like, be a brotherhood for everybody on the team.
So again, that type of player.
Do you have a favorite team growing up in the NFL?
Favorite team.
I did like Dallas, Dallas Cowboys.
You know, they were my team.
My dad got me into them a little bit.
Yeah.
So, but really I like everybody team for real.
Now I know, y- as you should feel like you could play for any team in the league, right?
what are a couple teams you could see yourself fitting right in with, with your style of play and maybe another back that they got in the backfield?
Where, where could you just envision yourself toting the rock?
Yeah, I feel like I could see myself anywhere for, it doesn't matter what team it is, you know.
I'ma come in, you know, put the work in, and this is my work running backs in there.
I'm just come in, put the work in, just get better every day.
I dig it.
Y- you have a skill set that not a lot of running backs in college do.
You pass protect.
Definitely.
And that was a- you were asked a lot of that.
And obviously you have the size and the strength for that, but even the technique, how did you develop that over time?
Like, was that something you had in high school already, or you kinda developed that at Penn State?
I wanna say high school, just 'cause, you know, back in high school they just gave me the ball and just ran- Right, and do it a lot throw the ball and all that.
Yeah.
So I have definitely had to develop that, especially freshman year.
But, you know, I just kept working out at it, you know.
Coach Sider, you know, my running backs coach, you know, he did a good job with that.
Coach Stan too, so, you know, I got better with that, so thank you for them.
Was there a bl- ever, like, a blitz pickup where you're like, "They're really sending this guy at me"?
Like, any special play It's usually unfair for the running backs.
You're 225, so it's a little bit better of a matchup.
I would say probably, like, freshman year, 'cause, you know, it's my first year actually doing it.
But, you know, once I kept doing it, I got better and more confident about it, so it felt good.
Speaking of your freshman year, you was Big Ten Freshman of the Year, right?
on, on, on the offense.
What was your best moment at Penn State?
Best moment at Penn State.
My freshman year or just in general?
Just in general.
In general.
I'd say my last game my senior year, getting that touchdown record, 'cause, you know- Yes that's been there for a minute.
Yes, that's- For a long time, so.
Yes.
Yeah, yeah.
Having your name up there- Big win meant a lot to me, man.
Yeah.
Nick Singleton, man, we've really enjoyed watching you in college.
Can't wait to see you get healthy- Yeah.
That's it in this process as well.
And best of luck in the NFL.
Thank you.
Appreciate it
