Penn State caps incredible stretch of recruiting with elite RB

Penn State football had an impressive weekend on the recruiting trail and it continued on Tuesday with the addition of elite running back Nicholas Singleton. 

James Franklin has had his fair share of critics as head coach of Penn State football and many were critical of the Nittany Lions 2021 recruiting class.

But those complaints are becoming an afterthought as Franklin and Penn State football builds an elite 2022 recruiting class, one that added an elite running back on Tuesday in the way of top-100 recruit Nicholas Singleton.

Singleton, who is ranked 98th overall in the 2022 recruiting class according to the 247 sports composite rankings, is now Penn State’s highest commitment, as well as the Nittany Lions sixth verbal pledge since the start of July.

Penn State football surges into 2022’s top five

The addition of Singleton who is out of Reading and is ranked as the No. 2 prospect in the state of Pennslyvania is huge for the Nittany Lions. Not only is Penn State getting one of its most talented running backs in years, but it also beat out Notre Dame for his commitment.

When it comes to the 2022 class, Singleton was easily among Penn State’s top priorities, and landing a top target is always a positive thing for any class.

This surge also has Penn State up to No. 3 in the team rankings for the 2022 class behind only Ohio State and Notre Dame.

With 10 four-star commitments, but just one ranked in the top 100, Penn State football is unlikely to remain ranked that high, but it’s still going to be a vast improvement over the 2021 class, which had 17 signees total and just four rated as four-star recruits. It was ranked 21st overall.

With Singleton, this class is loaded with four-star prospects. The Nittany Lions also added a pair over the weekend on July 4th in defensive end Tyreese Fearby and defensive lineman Zane Durant.

Penn State football now has three players ranked in the top 338 (247 composite) on the defensive line, as well as three four-star receivers, a four-star quarterback, a four-star offensive tackle, and a top-100 running back.

Even with all this momentum, Penn State still has a number of top targets on the board, including one in Dani Dennis-Sutton who will decide in just a few weeks.

But even if Penn State doesn’t hit a bunch of home runs between now and national signing day, as long as the Nittany Lions hold the commitments they have, this class will keep them in position to be a contender in the Big Ten conference.

It will also take some heat off Franklin after a very pedestrian 2021 class. This is more of what Penn State fans want and have come to expect.