The Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen saga at Penn State is approaching its final chapter. And at this time next year, a competition for the program’s next starting running back will be conducted for the first time in four years. Corey Smith and Quinton Martin Jr. introduced themselves as freshmen last season, and a newcomer is making an early name for himself in winter workouts.
Tikey Hayes has already cemented his name in the Pennsylvania football history books. He became the all-time leading rusher at Pittsburgh’s Aliquippa High School — once home to Pro Football Hall of Famers such as Mike Ditka, Darelle Revis and Ty Law — and sixth-leading rusher in WPIAL history this past fall. But Hayes doesn’t appear satisfied. He’s wowed Nittany Lion coaches.
“Tikey Hayes has been incredibly impressive so far,” strength coach Chuck Losey said on Thursday. “He’s wired right. Everything he does is important to him.”
The 5-foot-11, 210-pound Hayes accomplished just about everything a running back could accomplish at the high school level. He earned four All-State honors, even achieving the mark across a senior season limited by injuries. As a junior, Hayes led Aliquippa to WPIAL and state titles. He finished his high school career with 6,882 yards on 846 carries.
But, regardless of his on-field dominance, Hayes was underrecruited, rated by 247Sports as the nation’s No. 32-ranked running back and No. 426 overall prospect in the 2025 class. James Franklin never let Hayes’ recruiting ranks sway him, and maintained a trust in him long before the Aliquippa all-time great arrived on campus in January.
“You’ve been one of the most productive players in the history of Pennsylvania. I think you’re the most underappreciated running back in the country. We have believed in you from the beginning,” Franklin told Hayes on National Signing Day on Dec. 4. “Your ability as a running back, your ability as a receiver, your impact on your team, we just can’t wait to get you here. The type of student you are, you’re the whole package.”
Franklin, of course, had some inside intel of Hayes, who is the nephew of Penn State cornerbacks coach Terry Smith. And since Hayes joined his uncle’s program, which has increased its focus and success on Pittsburgh recruiting in recent years, Hayes has taken off. He was acknowledged by running backs coach Stan Drayton in the third week of winter workouts.
There are still a few weeks before the Nittany Lions actually put on the pads for spring practice, and Hayes will have to define himself as a player so talented his coaches can’t leave him off the field if he hopes to gain consistent reps in 2025. But a vacancy at running back lingers in the near future, and Hayes could be a name to keep an eye on as the year progresses.
“I think he’s got a good feel for the game. Can change direction quickly, can stop, can start,” general manager of personnel and recruitment Andy Frank said on signing day. “Is he necessarily the fastest guy on the field? He may not be, for us, the fastest guy on the field, but he’s got enough speed to hit some bigger runs.
“But I think what he really does well is change his direction. He finds creases because he can lower his shoulder. And I think he’s going to be a guy that’s going to allow us to continue a traditional path in the backfield.”
