By Kyle Golik
As Penn State running back Nick Singleton prepares for the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Orange Bowl against Notre Dame, Singleton has been pressed on how close Notre Dame was able to convince Singleton, the top RB and player in Pennsylvania from 2022 to commit.
“Notre Dame was obviously a good visit,” Singleton said Saturday during Orange Bowl media availability. “The coaches and the team were nice. It came down to the atmosphere. Penn State treated me like family ever since I came here as a recruit. They treated my family like family, too. It was an easy choice, too. The tradition of running backs and how many have been produced here. It was close to home. Being from PA, there’s no other place to be.”
Penn State head coach James Franklin reflected on Singleton’s recruitment as well.
“So I think early on, we were, I thought, in a really good place and then he went on some visits and almost lost him. Then we were able to get him back and had a great senior year, and you know, has really just showed up here ready to contribute. He’s a guy, I think in a lot of ways, like a lot of guys say they want to play as freshman but he approached it that way. You know, in the weight room in terms of learning the offense, how he practiced.”
Franklin concluded with Singleton, who is now facing the prospects of returning for a senior season at Penn State or entering the 2025 NFL Draft.
“To me, he’s a Penn State guy in terms of just substance, right. And has maximized his career. I think he’s trying to decide what he’s going to do, him and his family. Been a ton of conversations there. He’s been awesome.”
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While Singleton ultimately chose Penn State, what if 247Sports No. 1 running back in the nation for the Class of 2022 went to Notre Dame? Let’s examine.
#1 Does Franklin Keep His Class of 2022 Intact?
Singleton committed to Penn State in July 2021 with him being an influencer for a class that is James Franklin’s greatest to date at Penn State. Franklin’s haul included quarterback Drew Allar, who was rated the No. 1 quarterback in the class, EDGE rushers Abdul Carter, who is seen as a Top 10 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Dani Dennis-Sutton, safety K.J. Winston, who prior to his injury was rated amongst the top safeties in the country, and defensive tackle Zane Durant, who is starting to get some NFL Draft buzz.
I feel Franklin keeps a good bit of this class intact, to identify one or someone that wouldn’t come would be disingenuous but at the same time, if Franklin does not have Singleton as his bedrock for the class, does an Abdul Carter look at Penn State differently for example? Most likely. Not saying Carter would go, but Singleton’s commitment was an accelerant for Franklin and staff to really begin locking down this class. Ultimately with a Notre Dame commitment, Franklin would miss out on at least one or two of these prospects.
#2 Franklin Does Not Have ‘CFP Caliber’ Resurgence
After Penn State had fallen to a .500 program between the 2020 and 2021 seasons (11-11 record overall), Penn State has won 34 games over the last three seasons. It marked the first time in program history that Penn State has won at least 34 games over a three-year span.
Nationally, Penn State is one of five programs, along with Georgia (39), Michigan (36), Oregon (34), and Ohio State (34) among FBS teams with 34+ wins over the last three seasons.
Ever since Singleton debuted in 2022, he has been a big play threat, something that had been a void the previous two seasons. Without Singleton, I don’t feel Penn State would be at this point. If Penn State only had Kaytron Allen and someone to compliment him, I feel Franklin would have Penn State winning nine or 10 games a year, but they would lack the difference maker that has gotten them here now.
In a way, Franklin would have some semblance of a resurgence, but not to the level we have seen.
#3 Does Brian Kelly Still Leave?
This is harder to say one way or another as Kelly leaves prior to Singleton ever enrolling. The frustrations that existed that built up that motivated Kelly to leave for LSU don’t change. To say Singleton would be a reason Kelly would stay would be disingenuous. Does a Singleton commitment to Notre Dame help lure Kelly a few more recruits to South Bend that make it too good to leave? There is always that to consider. I personally feel Kelly since the documentation of his actions have been revealed and he his half hearted goodbye talk to the team speaks for themselves.
#4 How Singleton Impacts Marcus Freeman’s Tenure & College Football?
The question then becomes how does Marcus Freeman leverage Nick Singleton in 2022? Notre Dame had a loaded running back room with Logan Diggs, Audric Estime, and Chris Tyree. At minimum Singleton is a RB3.
I feel Singleton’s impact would resonate in 2023, Estime coupled with Singleton would have given Notre Dame a home run hitter and would have changed a few games. Singleton would have been a difference maker in games against Ohio State, Clemson, and Louisville. I feel Singleton would have made Notre Dame a playoff team if all other events still remained the same, including the CFP Committee denying Florida State.
If Notre Dame got Michigan in the Rose Bowl, you never know what transpired. Maybe it was Harbaugh’s time and Michigan was destined for a national championship. If Notre Dame upset Michigan, No. 4 Alabama took No. 1 Michigan to overtime, say Washington still defeats Texas, I like Washington defeating Notre Dame, again it could go either way. If Washington is reigning national championships, I still feel Nick Saban retires, but I don’t feel Kalen DeBoer leaves Washington for Alabama.
This is the potential downstream effect, and Singleton would have been a Heisman favorite entering 2024 in this scenario. Freeman has more prominence in the sport, as his name continues to be one of the hottest commodities in coaching searches, notably in the NFL.
