FAU Football: 5 reasons Devin Singletary is nation’s best running back

FAU football‘s Devin Singletary was quietly one of the best running backs in all of college football last season. He’s ready to take the next step in 2018.

Depending on how much college football you watched last season, you may have never seen one of the best running backs in the country. FAU’s Devin Singletary put together one of the best seasons of any back last year. He did it so quietly that the average college football fan had no idea.

Singletary is the conductor of the Lane train at FAU. Kiffin rode the rising junior halfback last year to an impressive 10-3 season, a C-USA title and a bowl drubbing of Akron. Singletary put up 1,256 yards and 19 touchdowns on the ground in just nine games. He’ll be even better in 2018, and I think he could be the best back in college football.

5. Relentless effort

Singletary didn’t get the nickname “motor” for no reason. The 5-foot-9, 200 pounder runs like he’s the biggest, strongest player on the field at all times. He never goes down without the amount of fight and effort rivaled only by a prize boxer. Despite his small frame, he initiates contact with complete reckless abandon and bad intentions.

He battles for every yard, and tires defenders out all game long with his speed, power, and seemingly endless energy. That energy and effort is part of what makes him so perfect for Kiffin’s offense.

This all comes despite the lack of size I mentioned, and contributes to what makes Singletary so impressive. Outside of Reggie Bush, Lane Kiffin prefers bigger backs (more on this later), and Singetary manages to make up for that easily. He plays much bigger than he actually is, and does so on every single play.

One of Singletary’s best qualities is that he always falls forward. That comes from fight, effort, and constantly outworking defenders. Singletary does all of that better than just about any back in the nation.