Prolific Pennsylvania Running Back Commits to Penn State

Tikey Hayes, an Aliquippa junior who already has rushed for 4,000 career yards, joins the Lions' 2025 recruiting class.

Tikey Hayes, a 4-star running back from Aliquippa High, committed to Penn State on Monday, becoming the first Pennsylvania player to join the Nittany Lions' 2025 recruiting class. Hayes announced his decision at a ceremony at his high school. Hayes chose Penn State from a final list that included Ohio State, Michigan, Pitt, Maryland and Michigan State.

Hayes (5-10, 185 pounds) is the latest in a long line of prolific running backs from Aliquippa. He rushed for 1,981 yards as a sophomore and surpassed 4,000 yards for his career in September. And Hayes already has played in two state-championship games, helping Aliquippa to the PIAA Class 4A title in 2021.

Hayes is the second-ranked running back in Pennsylvania for the 2025 recruiting cycle and the state's No. 11 prospect overall, according to the 247Sports Composite. Rivals lists Hayes as Pennsylvania's No. 5 player in its early rankings.

Hayes is the fourth player in Penn State's 2025 recruiting class, which already includes two running backs. Kiandra Barker, a 4-star prospect from Arkansas who plays in Texas, committed to Penn State in April. Hayes also is the second player to commit to Penn State's 2025 recruiting class following the Lions' victory over Iowa in the White Out game. On Sunday, 4-star linebacker DJ McClary from New Jersey announced his commitment to Penn State. Penn State's 2025 recruiting class can begin signing its Letters of Intent in December 2024.

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