Singleton, Carter mum on future with Penn State football

On Monday morning, Penn State football received a significant shot in the arm when starting quarterback Drew Allar announced his plan to return to Happy Valley his senior season. However, several of the Nittany Lions’ other top stars are staying quiet about whether Saturday could potentially be their last appearance in the Blue and White.

“I saw Drew coming back yesterday, which is phenomenal,” junior running back Nicholas Singleton said on Tuesday. “But right now, I’m just focused on the season: SMU, SMU. And just after that, at the end of the season, I’ll figure out if I’m staying or not.”

Star edge rusher Abdul Carter also told reporters on Tuesday that he is not looking ahead beyond Saturday afternoon.

“We just take each week like we’ve been throughout the whole season. We prepare the same way,” he said of this week’s approach. “It’s the same energy.

“And towards the NFL, we are not focused on that. We just focus on the Playoff. Focus on one game at a time, and that’s what we’ve been doing.”

Both top 10 recruits in Pennsylvania in the class of 2022, Singleton and Carter have been key contributors since the Nittany Lions’ Rose Bowl winning season three years ago.

© Grace Smith/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Even after battling injury throughout the season, Singleton still has delivered the second-highest yardage total of his career, going for 838 yards and seven touchdowns on 131 carries.

Carter, on the other hand, has transitioned nicely from linebacker to his new role as an edge rusher. The junior defensive end has a team-leading 10 sacks to go along with 60 tackles on the season.

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Nicholas Singleton and Abdul Carter weren’t the only Nittany Lions who remained silent on their future with Penn State football.

“It’s been a thought in my head, just with time crunching and just being my fourth year, but I’m not really thinking about that right now,” linebacker Kobe King said. “Focusing on SMU. Because that’s all I can really focus on right now, is game week.

“And, you know, focusing on today, [having a] great for practice, go out there with the right mentality, approach, and execute.”

Likewise, defensive tackle Zane Durant also hasn’t decided whether or not he’ll be back next year.

“I haven’t made a decision,” Durant said. “I’m just focused on SMU.”

As for SMU, Penn State football will host the Mustangs on Saturday at noon inside Beaver Stadium.

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