The Penn State Nittany Lions will be without star running back Nicholas Singleton for the program's Pinstripe Bowl matchup against the Clemson Tigers.
With the Penn State Nittany Lions continuing to prepare for the program’s bowl game matchup against the Clemson Tigers, the offense will be without one of their star playmakers.
According to Reading Eagle’s Rich Scarcella on Thursday, Penn State star running back Nicholas Singleton will opt out of the team’s Pinstripe Bowl matchup against the Tigers, making him the first offensive player to not play in the contest.
Singleton now joins senior defensive tackle Zane Durant as the veteran playmakers to opt out of the game, as Durant announced earlier this week that he will not be participating in the bowl game.
In addition to Singleton and Durant, safety Zakee Wheatley will also opt out of the matchup to prepare for the 2026 NFL Draft.
As a former five-star recruit in the Nittany Lions’ incredible 2022 recruiting class, the expectations were high for Singleton once he arrived in State College.
Luckily for the Pennsylvania native and the entire fan base, he would live up to the hype during his time with the program.
In his four years with Penn State, Singleton finished with 3,461 rushing yards and 45 touchdowns, along with 987 receiving yards and nine touchdowns through the air. His 45 rushing touchdowns became the most in program history, passing up former star rusher Saquon Barkley in Week 14 against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights.
Singleton’s successful run with the Nittany Lions started from the moment he stepped on campus, as he ended his freshman season with 1,061 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns.
He would reach the 1,000 rushing yard mark once again in his junior season, but would see a sharp decline in production during his final season with the program.
Now, the young playmaker will look to boost his draft stock before the upcoming NFL Draft in April. Singleton is the No. 4-ranked running back on PFF’s 2026 Big Board, as well as the No. 111 player in the draft class.
The former in-state recruit joins fellow teammate Kaytron Allen as two of the top running backs in this year’s class, with both players projected to be day two/day three picks.