With around three months left until early signing day, players committed to Penn State and anywhere else still have plenty of time to change their minds.
Nothing is for sure until the player signs his letter of intent, but Aliquippa’s Tikey Hayes told NSN in an exclusive interview that he has no plans to visit other schools, and also told NSN that he plans to enroll early.
Hayes has been committed to Penn State for almost a year. He announced his decision Sept. 25 of last year two days after the team’s 31-0 White Out demolition of Iowa. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound RB is currently dealing with an injury that kept him out of the Quips’ win over Mars Friday and is week-to-week. When he’s healthy, he’s a force.
Hayes’ injury came off a big game against Avonworth. He went for 187 yards on 13 carries and scoring three touchdowns. Each score came in the second quarter.
Nittany Sports Now spoke with Hayes earlier this week. He told NSN about what he’s done to improve his game over this offseason.
Patience has been key.
“I feel like I’m more patient and obviously faster,” he said. “As a freshman, I was getting tracked down a lot but now I’m leaving kids in the dust, hitting the holes when I should be and not too soon instead of letting my blocks develop. So I definitely think I’m more patient and faster.”
Not every Penn State commit will be enrolling early.
“I wish I could,” Pittsburgh Central Catholic DB Xxavier Thomas told NSN’s Nathan Breisinger. “The way my high school works, I have to take four years to graduate. The earliest I could be get up there is May 17 of next year.”
