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No. 3: Motor’s Historic Run
BOCA RATON – Toward the end of the 2016 season FAU running back Devin Singletary provided a provided a preview of spectacular he could be with the football in his hands, but no one reasonably expected the record-setting production he delivered in 2017.
Singletary rushed for 1,021 yards and 12 touchdowns as a freshman in 2016 while splitting carries with Buddy Howell. His breakout games came against Rice, a 257-yard performance, with a 235-yard effort at Middle Tennessee coming shortly thereafter.
His sophomore season began rather unremarkably. Through the first two games, both FAU losses, Singletary only carried the ball 23 times, rushing for 94 yards and a touchdown.
After those two games, however, no one could stop him.
Singletary became a touchdown machine, scoring 31 of them on the ground over the final 12 games, becoming the first FAU player ever to lead the nation in rushing touchdowns. Only two players in the history of college football, Oklahoma St.’s Barry Sanders and Wisconsin’s Monte Ball, ever rushed for more touchdowns in a senior season.
His 33 total touchdowns also led the nation and he led the nation in scoring.
Singletary set an FAU single season record with 1,920 rushing yards. That total was fourth most in the nation, and his 137.1 yards per game were fifth best nationally.
To cap the best season in FAU history Singletary rushed for 124 yards and three touchdowns in the Boca Raton Bowl. And he still has two years of eligibility remaining.
What We Wrote
Singletary named C-USA Player of the Week
Singletary Chosen as One of FAU’s Captains
If Singletary Plays in Spring Game, He’ll Be Non-Contact
Why It’s Important
No FAU player has ever received the kind of national attention that Singletary garnered in 2017.
He’s already FAU’s leader in career rushing touchdowns with 44 – 17 more than second-place Alfred Morris. Singletary’s 2,941 rushing yards over his first two seasons is already third most in FAU history, and he should take over the top spot from Morris midway through his junior season.
And Singletary accomplished the 1,920 yard, 32 touchdown season only after beating out Buddy Howell – currently with the Miami Dolphins – for the lead back spot.
While some argued his stats were a byproduct of either a gimmicky offensive scheme or weak defensive competition, Singletary’s name is now popping up on preseason All-American lists.
Heck, Singletary is being tabbed by some as a darkhorse Heisman Trophy candidate. In the history of the FAU football program only Howard Schnellenberger and Lane Kiffin have generated the kind of national buzz that currently surrounds the back everyone calls “Motor.”
Why all the love? Singletary can basically do it all. He’s about as elusive as a back gets. He’s also powerful. Rarely does the first tackler bring him to the ground. Though not a burner, Singletary is also fast enough that he rarely gets caught from behind.
Following the season the Associated Press named Singletary a third-team All-American, the first time the AP included an FAU player on that list. Conference USA chose Singletary as its MVP.
With Singletary in the backfield, FAU’s offense will undoubtedly continue to Motor along.
It should be noted that Singletary’s season wasn’t the only notable individual FAU performance on a National scale.
Only one player in the nation intercepted more passes than safety Jalen Young’s seven. And linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair’s 147 tackles were the third most by any player in the nation.
The Countdown
No. 10: Construction Begins on Schmidt Complex
No. 9: Stranded in Wisconsin
No. 8: Curry Out, May In
No. 7: Constant QB Battle
No. 6: Change at the Top
No. 5: Baseball Keeps Rolling
No. 4: Boca Bowl Bliss
No. 3: Motor’s Historic Run
No. 2: Conference USA Title Time
No. 1 : The Lane Train Express
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