Former five-star running back Nick Singleton broke out as a freshman in 2022 for Penn State, piling up over 1,000 yards in his first season.

However, in 2023, Nick Singleton and the Nittany Lions‘ running game took a slight step back, as the unit struggled to consistently move the ball on the ground in Mike Yurcich’s offense. Now, ahead of a pivotal season in 2024, Singleton sounds refreshed and excited about the Nittany Lions’ new offense under new offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki.

Nick Singleton Talks ‘Different’ Penn State Offense

On Thursday, Singleton took the opportunity to describe Andy Kotelnicki’s offense and focus for 2024, calling it “really different” than Penn State’s offense from the past two seasons.

“I’m not going to compare it [to Penn State’s offense under Mike Yurcich],” Singleton told reporters. “But I’m excited. You could tell everybody’s excited.”

Singleton continued praising Kotelnicki as a “really good coach,” saying the offense has “been working.”

In the interview Thursday, Singleton also described a simple, but promising focus for Kotelnicki with Penn State’s offense in 2024, “giving the best players the ball.”

This focus should come as a major relief for Penn State fans after watching the offense struggle to get its top playmakers the ball in 2023, especially at the receiver position.

This was put on display throughout the 2023 season, especially in Penn State’s big matchups.

Against Ohio State and Michigan, Nick Singleton only touched the ball 10 total times in the second half of both games. Penn State’s number one wide receiver, KeAndre Lambert-Smith, only caught two passes in the final four games of the season.

In fact, against Ole Miss in the Peach Bowl, Drew Allar did not complete a pass to a wide receiver in the first three quarters.

According to Singleton, Kotelnicki’s focus on getting the best players the ball next season will bring out the best of Penn State’s players throughout spring and fall camp.

“Coach K, he coaches straight up,” Singleton told reporters.”He’s giving the best players the ball, so everybody’s gotta show up in spring and camp.”

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Andy Kotelnicki Emphasizing Playmakers

In order to prove players deserve to be considered the “best” and get touches next season, Kotelnicki will see who produces in practices this spring and summer.

“The players are buying in,” Kotelnicki told reporters. “Because they are yearning to perform at a high level.”

On the offense, Kotelnicki seems impressed so far.

“I have been in every day since winter workouts to now,” Kotelnicki explained. “And I’ve been really impressed with the players, even just collectively as a team and their willingness to compete — to fight, to sacrifice their own time to work ahead with installations and things and being engaged. I can tell you collectively, I’ve been really impressed with everybody.”

While it’s still early in the offseason, Penn State’s offense seems refocused and energized ahead of the 2024 season.

If Penn State is to achieve its goal of breaking through to the Nittany Lions’ first College Football Playoff berth, Kotelnicki and Penn State will need to lean on the Nittany Lions’ running game and hope that it can get back to 2022 form.

In that regard, Singleton’s comments should give fans plenty of hope heading into 2024.

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