Connect with us

FOOTBALL

True freshman RB earning praise for ‘incredibly impressive’ start to Penn State football career

Former WPIAL standout Tikey Hayes is making a great first impression on the Penn State football staff in his first weeks on campus.

Published

22 minutes ago

on

Penn State football
Penn State head coach James Franklin greets 2025 football commit and Aliquippa High School running back Tikey Hayes before an NCAA football game against Kent State, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in State College, Pa. © Dan Rainville / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Former Aliquippa star Tikey Hayes has only been in Happy Valley for two months, but the young running back is already standing out within the Penn State football program. Speaking to the media this week, Nittany Lions strength coach Chuck Losey singled out the early enrollee as one of the newcomers making a strong first impression.

“Tikey Hayes has been incredibly impressive so far,” Losey stated. “He’s wired right; everything he does is important to him.”

Looking for a way to stay up-to-date with all the most important news surrounding Penn State football and Nittany Lion athletics? Follow us on social media and subscribe to our free newsletter for live news and insights sent directly to your feed!

Hayes, the nephew of Penn State cornerbacks coach Terry Smith and the cousin of former Nittany Lions running back Tank Smith, is coming off a productive high school career in western Pennsylvania. Rushing for over 2,000 yards as a sophomore and junior, Hayes earned WPIAL Player of the Year and Mr. PA Football honors in 2023. He ran for 1,022 yards and 17 scores as a senior, capping off his career with 99 rushing touchdowns.

A four-star prospect in the 247Sports Composite Rankings, Hayes is one of 16 members of the 2025 recruiting class who early enrolled this January.

Thank you for reading Basic Blues Nation, one of the fastest-growing outlets covering Penn State athletics. Part of the Full Ride network, we are an alumni-owned, community-operated, credentialed media outlet dedicated to providing you with updated and reliable insights for all your favorite Nittany Lion sports. Whether it’s Penn State football, basketball, wrestling, or anything in between, you can find it all on Basic Blues Nation!
Please follow us on our social channels, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube, and subscribe to our newsletter on Substack for breaking news and notifications. For feedback, questions, or concerns, please email us at [email protected] or direct message us on social media. 

Related Topics:

Matt is a co-owner and Editor of Basic Blues Nation. Launched in 2022, Basic Blues Nation is one of the fastest-growing websites covering all Penn State athletics. Matt is also a credentialed member of the Penn State football beat, and is a member of the Football Writers Association of America.

Trending