DeShon Singleton surges into Nebraska’s starting safety role
No step in DeShon Singleton’s journey has been easy.
The junior from Amite, Louisiana, didn’t have a scholarship offer coming out of high school, so he had to take the junior college route. Singleton chose Hutchinson (Kansas) Community College and intercepted two passes while making 21 tackles in his only season as a Blue Dragon.
After considering Kansas and Kansas State, he selected Nebraska as his next stop. Singleton spent the majority of his 2022 season on special teams. He appeared on defense in six games, making three tackles.
Despite his limited production, Singleton never lost his motivation. That’s been the case throughout his entire career.
“Everywhere I went, I had a chip on my shoulder, like I had to prove myself,” Singleton said. “I knew everyone doubted me. I didn’t expect myself to be here at the University of Nebraska. I just carried a chip on my shoulder and went to work.
“I just try to win every rep. It helps me with everything when I’ve been through adversity because I know if I go through something, God’s going to find a way for me to get through it.”
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Singleton takes the reins at safety
Singleton remains driven as he enters his second season at Nebraska. His experience gives him a sense of stability in a new defensive system.
“I feel like I’m more confident than I’ve ever been before,” Singleton said. “I know football more. I know different things (Evan Cooper) has been teaching us since the spring. I feel like I’m getting in the rhythm knowing the ins and outs of the defense. I feel pretty good about it.”
Nebraska released its first depth chart a week after Singleton delivered those comments. He had hoped to set himself apart by giving full effort and showing knowledge of defensive coordinator Tony White’s 3-3-5 playbook. It certainly seems he succeeded.
Singleton got the nod as a starting safety for Nebraska’s season opener at Minnesota next week, according to the team’s Week 1 depth chart. Linebacker Luke Reimer is one of the most experienced voices on that side of the ball, and he gave Singleton a major vote of confidence.
“He’s just super long and super rangy,” Reimer said. “So he covers a lot of ground, and he’s not afraid to hit. That’s all the makings of a great safety.”
There aren’t many Husker skill position players more physically imposing than Gabe Ervin Jr. In high school, the Buford, Georgia, native weighed around 200 pounds. Now he’s 25 pounds heavier and has claimed the No. 1 spot in a deep running back room.
It turns out Ervin wasn’t the only one who made major changes to his body.
“DeShon has definitely put on more weight,” Ervin said. “It feels like a linebacker when I try to collide with him. DeShon is going to be a great player. I tell him every day, ‘Iron sharpens iron.’ He’s going to be a great player for us.
“We go at it in the practice, and so in the games when he has to tackle (Wisconsin running back) Braelon Allen or somebody, it could be good. When I have to go against a big linebacker, it’s going to be good.”
Singleton’s impact will continue on special teams
While Singleton will likely have a key role on defense this year, he still wants to be involved on special teams. The safety appeared in the third element in every game last season.
“I’m trying to be on all four special teams,” Singleton said. “That’s a big, big deal to me. Say you’re on punt return, and it’s fourth-and-1, and this is to seal the game. You would want to be on the field at that moment. So I feel like, competitors compete. Kickoff, we need to make a tackle, and it’s the last second of the game, I want to be on the field to make that tackle.”
At 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds, Singleton fits the mold of a physical, speedy defensive back in White’s defense. Under the watchful eyes of head coach Matt Rhule and Nebraska’s staff, Singleton has a shot to go from a guy without any offers to one who checks all the boxes.
The potential is definitely there.
“DeShon Singleton is a grown man back there,” Rhule said. “He is probably one of the biggest, most explosive, fastest safeties I have ever been around. He tests out in the gym, and now what you are seeing is his testing show up on the football field.”
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