Sumo star Josh Singleton a blocker to know

2026 OL Joshua Singleton of IMG Academy

Not every path to college football is linear.

From late bloomers to unique circumstance, the route to notoriety at the highest of levels can shift at any moment.

Joshua Singleton leaned into a route few would likely volunteer.

A comfortable starter at several offensive line positions at multiple Sunshine State prep programs, he elected to move to IMG Academy to work with and against some of the top offensive line recruits in the country. While it hasn't yielded the same level of playing time, the lessons and growth earned as a senior will prove invaluable ahead of the collegiate game.

"Here at IMG, if you're not on your Ps and Qs, you'll get embarrassed," Singleton said. "You have to be working hard, 24-7. There's no off-days here.

"But I'm developing real well. My technique has improved with Coach Stuts (Greg Studrawa). Everything is a lot more fluid. I've also dropped weight and I'm moving quicker, understanding the game a lot better. You can't get that teaching anywhere else."

Singleton also brings a different pedigree at 6-foot-5, 330 pounds.

There is defensive line experience to his name on Friday nights, and he has track and field to his name as well. But among the more unique tabs on the resume is sumo wrestling.

Not only did the teenager initiate interest in the sport in 2024, he placed second in the United States Sumo Federation national tournament for his division soon after.

It was his first amateur sumo event.

"Sumo wrestling teaches you everything about leverage," Singleton said. "You've got to have strength, too, because you can see guys 6-9, 6-10, up to 400 pounds."

Mark Jones made his own football to sumo move years earlier, before becoming a champion in the latter. He has been training Singleton on each side for more than a year.

"The two sports have a lot of similar qualities," he said. "It teaches balance, helps your leverage and things like that."

The added interest in being a dual-sport athlete, which includes a sumo invitation to soon train in Japan, comes to a head this coming offseason. Singleton is planning on playing college football and prioritizing it, but a supplement or potential shift towards sumo down the line is not out of the question.

As more college programs continue to show interest in the big blocker, who made a verbal commitment to East Carolina in July, plenty remains on the table going forward.

"The coaches at ECU are very welcoming," he said. "They've made it clear that they want me there."

IMG Academy football is 8-0 through the bulk of the regular season schedule.