Berks County Legend and Penn State Running Back Nick Singleton Receives Heroes Welcome in Baseballtown

(Reading, PA) - Nick Singleton first emerged as a star at FirstEnergy Stadium as a 14-year-old running back in September 2018.

The then-freshman for Governor Mifflin found the end zone on the opening drive against Reading High, helping the Mustangs to an eventual 49-12 pummeling of the Red Knights in the Gridiron Classic. Singleton was amid a freshman breakout, which resulted in him developing into the No. 1 running back in the 2022 class and the best player in Pennsylvania.

Nearly seven years after his score on the Fightin Phils’ field, Singleton returned as a hometown hero. After stardom with Gov. Mifflin, Singleton went on to Penn State, where he’s tallied 3,680 scrimmage yards and 40 touchdowns across his first three seasons.

Reading honored Singleton on Sunday with a customized bobblehead for the first 2,000 kids in attendance. Singleton threw out a first pitch, posed with Phillies No. 2 prospect Aidan Miller for photographs and took hundreds more throughout the day as fans flooded the Diamond Credit Union Plaza to meet the running back.

“Working hard at Penn State, (it’s) knowing I want to make people proud of me from here,” Singleton said. “Set an example for the younger guys to make them believe anything is possible.”

Three hours before first pitch at 5:15 p.m., locals wrapped around FirstEnergy Stadium in hopes of capturing Singleton’s bobblehead. Singleton celebrated with family in the Redner’s Event Center before parading through the outfield grass to the dugout minutes before his first pitch. The former Pennsylvania Gatorade Player of the Year signed autographs as he walked down the right-field line.

Singleton wore black Jordan Fours, black sweatpants and a gray hoodie with PSU to the right of a College Football Playoff logo. His Penn State gear followed a theme of the day throughout the concourse. Gear representing the Nittany Lions from a Micah Parson No. 11 t-shirt jersey, a No. 22 jersey and shirts for Singleton himself lined Baseballtown.

But even more significant than his current squad, Gov. Mifflin gear was seen throughout the ballpark. Singleton’s alma mater is less than eight miles from FirstEnergy Stadium and showed out Sunday to support their hallowed alum.

Gracing a No. 10 Mifflin Broncos jersey, 12-year-old Jordan Youngblood waited in line to meet Singleton. As his father, Zach, photographed the moment, Jordan smiled with his hero. Zach said the father-son duo have followed Singleton’s career since the running back's senior year with the Mustangs, attending every game. Jordan, a running back himself, wears the number because of Singleton.

“He looks up to Nick for everything,” Zach said of his son. “The number says it all.”

The two watch all of Singleton’s Penn State games on television and hope to go to a game in person at Beaver Stadium in his senior campaign. Jordan uses Singleton’s success as motivation toward his own.

“He helps me make sure I focus on my game,” Jordan said. “It's just like ‘anyone can do this.’”

As Jordan looks toward his future, Singleton recently decided on his own. He chose not to declare for the 2025 NFL Draft, announcing just four days after Penn State’s loss to Notre Dame in the CFP semifinal he’d be returning alongside fellow running back Kaytron Allen.

Singleton said he didn’t like how the season ended for the Nittany Lions, and he felt he had more to prove and work on. After speaking with Allen and a few other teammates, he came back to win the Big Ten and national titles.

“That's kind of one thing I want to be able to do, make my mark and my legacy at Penn State,” Singleton said.

Singleton’s more than made his mark in Berks County. Former Gov. Mifflin head coach Jeff Lang said he’s seen every game Singleton has played since second grade, where Lang’s son was his teammate and Nick’s dad, Tim, was their coach. Lang said even back then, Singleton stood out from the rest.

Nick Morrissey, the current Gov. Mifflin head coach, and the offensive and defensive line coach during Singleton’s tenure, said his approach was extremely consistent when he entered high school because Tim had him working with top trainers since middle school. Lang worked him in the midline option as a freshman to pound the ball between the tackles.

Lang said as many kids Singleton’s age were hanging out in the summer and enjoying themselves, Singleton would run hills. The work ethic is what Lang feels grew his initial recruiting interests. Morrissey added that even as top coaches in the country like Ryan Day, James Franklin, Nick Saban and others flew into the school district to visit Singleton, he never lost touch with his status on the team. He missed zero high school summer workouts.

“He was a one-in-a-million player,” Morrissey said. “It was like hitting the lottery.”

Morrissey said he has a son in second grade already aspiring to be like Singleton. Briana Sellitto, Singleton’s ninth grade teacher at Gov. Mifflin, was in attendance to catch up and take a photograph with her former student. She is a Penn State season ticket holder and watches Singleton star in Happy Valley while inspiring her current students.

Singleton remains within the community just as he was while starring for Gov. Mifflin. Lang said he helped with the school’s Special Olympics and his profile on Penn State Athletics’ Website even adds his involvement in volunteer coaching, elementary school literacy programs and community clean-up events. When Singleton returns to his roots, he leads Gatorade youth football clinics and often comes in to speak with current student-athletes.

His bobblehead features a green base, his signature dreadlocks and an all-red Mifflin uniform to signify his contributions to Berks County.

“It looks good,” Singleton said with a laugh. “I like the hair and all of that.”

Singleton still has one more year at Penn State to solidify his legacy with the Nittany Lions before a likely career at the professional level. But if Sunday’s events showed anything, his status as a hero back home is already secured.

“That bobblehead is going to be on every desk in Governor Mifflin,” Morrissey said. “It'll be in every basement, every kid's room. There probably won't be a house you go in at Governor Mifflin that doesn't have that bobblehead.”

The Fightin Phils return home from Tuesday, June 10, through Sunday, June 22, against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats and Hartford Yard Goats. On Tuesday, the first 2,000 adults receive a R-Phils Throwback Jersey T-Shirt, thanks to Berks County Mental Health & Developmental Disabilities Program. The first 2,000 kids, 12 and under, receive a free Hershey Park admission ticket on Wednesday. Thursday features a Roger Maris bobblehead for the first 2,500 adults, presented by Feesers. The night also includes the 2025 Reading Hall of Fame Induction of Dusty Wathan, Trevor May and Darin Ruf, sponsored by Penn State Health St. Joseph Medical Center; and the night concludes with fireworks, thanks to your local Kia dealers. Friday showcases fireworks, thanks to Silverline Trailers - Pottstown. Saturday is a Carpenter MEGA Blast Fireworks Show, presented by Diamond Credit Union and a Tribute to Taylor "Swifties Celebration." The series ends Sunday as first 3,000 men, 18 and older, receive a Father's Day Hawaiian Shirt, thanks to Redner's Markets & Quick Stops, "Preferred Grocery Store of the R-Phils." Tickets are available at rphils.com/tickets, by calling 610-370-BALL or at the Customers Bank Ticket Office.

The 2025 R-Phils season is presented by Pepsi. Follow the Fightin Phils on Twitter @ReadingFightins, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Instagram @Fightins.