Chicago Bears: Exclusive interview with NFL Draft prospect Devin Singletary

Singletary would flourish in Nagy’s offense

There is an awful lot to love about Devin Singletary’s game, but the first thing that jumps out at you when you turn on the tape is his elusiveness. In fact, according to Pro Football Focus, he finished with the most missed tackles forced in the country with 89 — which was 26 more than any other running back in the nation. Hi literally may be the most elusive back in the country.

His ability to see the play develop as he approaches the line of scrimmage is uncanny. What’s more impressive is his reaction to what he sees and his instincts to make the right decision, as demonstrated on this play.

When I sat down with Devin this past weekend, we discussed his elusiveness and where it comes from. While he conceded much of it is natural instinct and ability, film study also plays a major role in making him so tough to tackle — particularly understanding defenders’ tendencies.

The many reasons why Singletary is such an enticing option for the Bears are on full display in the video below. From his initial diagnosis to the point where his instincts took over, Devin walked me through the play.

“It was an inside zone and we were in the red zone,” Singletary remembered. “I got the ball and kept my shoulders square to bring the linebackers down and make the blocks easier for my linemen. After that it was instincts. I saw the guy on the outside and knew he was going to go low. So I baited him up, pressed as far as I could, and hit’em with a jump cut move.”

His ability to move laterally, see the hole, and turn on a dime should have Bears fans salivating. Pairing him with Tarik Cohen would give Chicago a dynamic and formidable backfield that would scintillate on a weekly basis.  Like Cohen, Singletary possesses that ‘home run’ ability and can gash the defense for huge chunks of yards.

Not only is he a big play waiting to happen, but he’s also an incredibly reliable and productive back. In three years at FAU, he ran for 4,287 yards (6.0 average) and rushed for 66 touchdowns. Despite carrying the ball 714 times, he did not fumble the ball once, an amazing statistic. Despite checking in at 5-foot-9 and weighing 200 pounds, he’s also incredibly difficult to bring down, maintaining magnificent balance through contact, as evidenced on this play.

Not only is Singletary incredibly talented between the lines, but he’s also highly regarded off the field, and is a high-character individual. When asked what Singletary would bring to the team beyond football, he replied:

"“I’m definitely a leader on and off the field and I definitely want to be involved in the community. I love kids and would love to be involved with helping kids in the community. I’m still trying to find another cause that I’m passionate about that I can help bring awareness to. Helping in the community is really important to me.”"

He’s someone who has his priorities in order and understands the magnitude of having the opportunity to play in the NFL. When he’s not working on his craft, he likes to fish, hang out with friends and watch Netflix.  We chatted about his off the field interests and much more when I sat down with Devin this past weekend.