By Danielle Daniels

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State sophomore running back Nicholas Singleton was named to the Paul Hornung Award watch list on Thursday, while redshirt senior defensive tackle Dvon Ellies was tabbed to the Wuerffel Trophy watch list.

The Paul Hornung Award, presented by Texas Roadhouse, is given annually by the Louisville sports Commission (LSC) to the most versatile player in major college football.

The Wuerffel Trophy is college football’s premier award for community service.

Nicholas Singleton · So. · RB · 6-0 · 224 · Shillington, Pa. · Governor Mifflin

• Also named to the Maxwell Award Watch List.
• Named Big Ten Thompson-Randle El Freshman of the Year in 2022.
• Earned Freshman All-American honors from the FWAA, ESPN.com, On3 and 247Sports.
• Voted third-team All-Big Ten as a running back and All-Big Ten second team as a return specialist.
• Led Nittany Lions with 1,061 yards and 12 rushing touchdowns in 2022.
• Singleton averaged 24.9 yards per kick return in 2022, including seven returns of 20 or more yards.
• Singleton returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown at Rutgers. It is tied for the second-longest kick return touchdown in program history.
• Set Penn State freshman record with 12 rushing touchdowns and became the third PSU freshman running back to rush for over 1,000 yards.
• Became 16th Nittany Lion to rush for 1,000 yards in a season.
• Singleton and Kaytron Allen (867) became the first freshmen teammates in Big Ten history each with 700+ rushing yards in a season.
• Singleton and Allen are the only Penn State duo to each rush for 850+ yards and one of three 800+ rushing yard duos.
• Led the Big Ten in 30+ yard runs (9; 3rd nationally) and 40+ yard runs (7; 3rd) and tied for second in 50+ yard runs (4; T-4th), 60+ yard runs (2; T-9th) and 20+ yard runs (12; T-18th).
• Finished second in the Big Ten and seventh nationally averaging 6.8 yards per carry.
• Led FBS freshmen in yards per carry and was second in all-purpose yardage (1,495).
• Tallied four 100-yard rushing games in 2022, including a season-high 179 against Ohio, and five multi-rushing touchdown games.
• Scored on an 87-yard run in the third quarter in the Rose Bowl Game against Utah. It is the third-longest run in Rose Bowl Game history.

Dvon Ellies · R-Sr. · DT · 6-1 · 302 · Burtonsville, Md. · McDonogh School

• Also named to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team Watch List.
• Earned the team’s Public Service Award in 2022.
• Major involvement with Team IMPACT kid, Sawyer Bell, including special school visits and introducing Sawyer to the team.
• Helped lead Penn State football humanitarian trip, as one of 12 players, traveling to Guatemala in May.
• The team partnered with Soles4Souls to bring shoes and clothing to a place of poverty.
• Serves as Penn State football’s leadership liaison for volunteer activities, leading the team and encouraging the team’s student-athletes to participate in volunteer activities around the Penn State community and state of Pennsylvania.
• Has appeared in 30 career games, making two starts.
• Totaled 15 tackles, two tackles for loss, a sack, one forced fumble and a pass breakup in 2022.
• Recorded first career forced fumble at Michigan (10/15/22).
• Notched a solo sack at Indiana (11/5/22).

The Wuerffel Trophy, named after 1996 Heisman Trophy winner Danny Wuerffel, will be presented on February 17, 2024 at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, Ga. The recipient will be announced on The Home Depot College Football Awards Show on December 7, 2023.

The trophy embodies Danny’s commitment to being a humanitarian, while honoring student-athletes who are inspired to serve others and make positive impacts on society.

The Paul Hornung Award is given annually to the most versatile player in major college football by the Louisville Sports Commision in honor of the late football legend and Louisville native Paul Hornung. The winner will be honored at the annual Paul Hornung Award Dinner at the Galt House Hotel in Louisville in March 2024.

COURTESY PENN STATE COMMUNICATIONS