Tikey Hayes played at the most historic football program in the Pittsburgh Area and still managed to break records.
Hayes is the all-time leading rusher at Aliquippa, and anybody who knows anything about Western PA football knows that’s no small accomplishment.
He ended his career with more than 6,900 yards rushing, which makes him among the leading rushers in the history of the district.
Now, he’s going to a program that’s been better than most at producing quality running backs.
To get into the Penn State record book will be an even bigger challenge but Hayes will be fortunate to learn from people who are already right there.
Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 204 pounds
Hometown: Aliquippa, PA
Before Penn State: Hayes rushed for 1,723 yards and 23 touchdowns one season.
Most players would do anything to do that as a senior, and some would even take that total for a career.
Hayes put up those numbers as a freshman.
The next season was even better. Hayes ran for 2,011 yards and 33 touchdowns. The year after that? 2,239 yards and 26 touchdowns. Hayes’ senior season didn’t go as well statistically due to him being hampered by injury. But still, he went for 1,022 yards and 17 touchdowns on just 97 carries, good for 10.5 yards per carry.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.Of course, Hayes’ talents caught Penn State’s eye, and he committed there in late September 2023.
Where he stands: If Hayes is to get into the Penn State record book, it’s not likely much of those numbers will come this season.
Penn State has what many feel is the best RB tandem in the country in Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen, both of which have a shot to break the Penn State career rushing record this year.
What’s even scarier is that Penn State’s RB room goes beyond Singleton and Allen.
Corey Smith and Quinton Martin are two second-year players capable of doing the job.
Third-year back Cam Wallace will be, as well, depending on how well he’s healed from a knee injury that took most of his 2024.
The good news about being buried in the depth chart is Hayes will have Singleton and Allen to learn from, along with maybe the best RB coach in history, Stan Drayton.
A quote by Hayes: “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.” — Hayes to Nittany Sports Now in an exclusive interview last fall
A quote about Hayes: “Tikey Hayes has been incredibly impressive so far. He’s wired right; everything he does is important to him.” — Penn State strength coach Chuck Losey this March
