As Penn State continues its push to make the College Football Playoff field with hopes of making a run at the national title, its 2022 recruiting class is not surprisingly playing a leading role. At least 11 players from that top 10 class are starting or seeing significant playing time. One could be a major factor against Maryland Saturday at 3:30 (TV-BTN) at Beaver Stadium and in the postseason now that he’s back at or near full health. Former Gov. Mifflin star Nick Singleton accounted for 100 yards from scrimmage and the go-ahead touchdown in the Nittany Lions’ 26-25 comeback win at Minnesota last weekend. Singleton had a hand in all three touchdown drives and in the final possession when Penn State ran the final 5:48 off the clock, keeping it away from the Gophers. “It’s just the explosive plays he’s able to create,” quarterback Drew Allar said Tuesday. “He found the end zone on a really good run, a really well-blocked run as well. The play right before it, he broke two tackles with a stiff arm to gain 15 yards. “Just getting him back to what he is and what he can be is going to be huge for us because of his explosive nature in the run game and the pass game. You saw that on Saturday.” Singleton sustained an injury when someone stepped on his foot during Penn State’s 21-7 win over Illinois in late September. At that point, he was thriving with new offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki calling the plays. He sat out the victory over UCLA and returned against USC, where he caught a game-tying 14-yard TD pass in the final minutes of a game the Lions eventually won in overtime. Since his injury, Singleton didn’t rush for more than 49 yards in any game until last weekend when he carried 13 times for 63 yards. He showed off his speed against Washington earlier this month with a 97-yard kickoff return for a TD that was called back and with several runs and catches at Minnesota. He’s still averaging a robust 6.0 yards per carry and 114.0 all-purpose yards per game. He’s the Lions’ second-leading rusher and third-leading receiver and tied for the lead with nine touchdowns. “Nick is looking closer to full speed and 100% than he’s been in a couple weeks,” Penn State coach James Franklin said Monday. “And we need that. He’s an explosive player. I think when the defensive coordinators see that and when the defensive players see that, it changes how they defend him and how they defend us. “If you make one mistake, it could go for 80 (yards).” Several of Singleton’s classmates also have made major contributions to the Lions’ No. 4 ranking and 10-1 record. Allar ranks fifth nationally in pass efficiency and completion percentage (.722). In the last three games, he’s completed 58-of-75 passes (.773) for 711 yards and five touchdowns without an interception. Then there are defensive linemen Abdul Carter, Dani Dennis-Sutton and Zane Durant, who was dominant at Minnesota with 2.5 tackles for loss. Like Singleton, Dennis-Sutton sustained a midseason injury and is just now rounding back into form. Carter has been nearly unblockable most of the season. He’s third in the country with 17.5 tackles for loss and has eight sacks, including two apiece against Ohio State and Washington. On Tuesday, he was named a finalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award, presented to the nation’s best defensive player. He was earlier selected a finalist for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, also presented to the nation’s best defensive player, and the Lombardi Award, given to the nation’s top offensive or defensive lineman. “Our goals were pretty similar to every single recruiting class, especially when we came here,” Allar said. “We came here to win and develop on and off the field. We came here to win games and we’ve done a pretty good job of that through our first three years together.” With a win over Maryland, Penn State would have the second-most victories (32) in a three-year stretch in school history, tying the 1972-74 teams. The only better three-year span was from 1971-73, when the Lions won 33 games. The current juniors will face a decision in the coming weeks, whether to enter the NFL draft or return for next season. Carter most likely will choose the NFL because he’s projected to be taken in the first 15 picks. Regardless of when they leave Penn State, they’ve made their mark on the program. “The production in that class has been really impressive,” senior tight end Tyler Warren said. “It was a great class. Something I’ve always noticed is how a lot of those guys have been the same people since they stepped on campus. They haven’t changed. “They treat everybody the same, with respect. That’s something I really appreciate as a teammate.”