As Florida Atlantic quarterback Chris Robison stuffed the ball into Devin Singletary’s gut, the junior running back lifted his head and paused. Somewhere, there was a hole, but Singletary needed to find it. After two steps and a juke right, he did.
Midway through the second quarter of FAU’s Week 2 victory over Air Force last season, Singletary burst through a gap on the offensive line’s left side and raced 36 yards to the end zone, where he dropped the ball and patted his chest twice. It was part of a 16-carry, 66-yard day for Singletary, and the first of five wins in FAU’s 2018 campaign.
After accumulating nearly 4,300 rushing yards and 67 total touchdowns over three college seasons, the Buffalo Bills used a third-round pick on Singletary in April’s NFL Draft. Immediately, he joined a crowded running backs room that consisted of incumbent starter LeSean McCoy and free agency pickups Frank Gore and T.J. Yeldon.
But Singletary still has a chance to make an impact.
Coming out of the draft, his role wasn’t limited to special teams or third downs. His expectations weren’t painted as a starter on a playoff team or a Pro Bowl lock. He was just a third-round pick, just another running back. By the end of December, he may be more.
Heading into the draft, it was clear the Bills needed to address the running back position. They didn’t need someone that required a first-day pick, but had to make a move. In 14 games last season, including 13 starts, McCoy tallied only 752 total yards, the lowest of his career.
Part of that was caused by the offensive line’s turnover, headlined by center Eric Wood and guard Richie Incognito’s sudden retirements. Combined with McCoy’s nagging injuries and lack of a clear change-of-pace back, Buffalo’s rushing totals were sub-par with the exception of rookie quarterback Josh Allen.
At pick No. 74, Singletary — who shares the nickname “Motor” with his father, Devonn Singletary Sr. — presented a solution. He came from an FAU program where he was the first AP All-American in program history and the first FAU player drafted under new head coach Lane Kiffin two years later. As a sophomore, he totaled over 2,000 total yards, including 26 carries for 130 yards and three touchdowns in the 2017 Boca Raton Bowl against Akron.
At St. John Fisher College and One Bills Drive, almost 20 hours away from FAU Stadium, Singletary begins his quest for an NFL roster spot. It’s one that seems likely, given his third-round status, but not defined. The running game could be for major changes, with McCoy’s roster spot no longer guaranteed given his cap hit. Age and durability with Yeldon and Gore durability are also questions that offensive coordinator Brian Daboll and running backs coach Kelly Skipper face this offseason.
With his 5-foot-7, 203-pound frame, Singletary’s explosiveness and power that allow him to both turn corners and dive through tackles are exactly what the Bills’ running game needs. A secondary option to McCoy forces defenses to always defend the run game, which in turn opens up passing windows for Allen downfield. If anything, Singletary could be a spark.
For opening kickoff on Sept. 8 against the New York Jets, Singletary might sprint down the field in a special teams role. He might jog onto MetLife Stadium’s turf with the other offensive starters, taking the first handoff of Buffalo’s season. Or he might play sporadically and at some point be delegated to the practice squad. His potential is evident, but the role unknown.
And for any rookie, especially Singletary, sometimes that is the best thing.
