2024 HSSN football position-by-position breakdown: Scouting the running backs
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Wednesday, August 14, 2024 | 6:01 AM
Aliquippa’s Tikey Hayes celebrates after scoring against Latrobe during their WPIAL Class 4A quarterfinal on Friday, Nov. 10, 2023, at Aliquippa.
Central Catholic’s Elijah Faulkner works out during the first practice of heat week on Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Oakland.
West Mifflin’s Armand Hill works out during practice on Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, in West Mifflin.
Steel Valley’s Donald Barksdale carries for a touchdown against Beaver Falls during the WPIAL Class 2A championship game on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023, at Acrisure Stadium.
McKeesport’s Kemon Spell
Central Valley’s Jance Henry Jr. scores during practice on Monday, Aug. 12, 2024, in Center.
TribLive HSSN will break down the top players at one position per day until Week Zero. Here is a look at the top running backs for the 2024 season.
1. Tiqwai “Tikey” Hayes
Aliquippa
Senior, 6-1, 198
Soon to be a four-year starter, Hayes already ranks among the top 10 rushers in WPIAL history and is closing in 6,000 career yards. The Penn State commit has won three WPIAL titles, two state championships and was state runner-up once. He was a workhorse back again last season for the Quips, rushing for 2,129 yards on 235 carries and scoring 26 touchdowns. He averaged 9.4 yards per carry. Ranked by Rivals.com as a four-star recruit, his college offers included Pitt, West Virginia, Cincinnati, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State and Stanford, among others. A multi-sport athlete, Hayes contributed off the bench for an Aliquippa basketball team that won a state title in March.
2. Armand Hill
West Mifflin
Sophomore, 5-10, 172
Hill began his freshman season as a one-way starter on defense and didn’t become a focus in the backfield until Week 5. But from that point forward, “Mondo” emerged as a tremendous two-way talent. He rushed for 1,529 yards on 117 carries and scored 21 touchdowns. Four of his TD runs covered 70 yards or more, and he averaged 13 yards per carry. In one game alone against Hopewell, Hill rushed for 495 yards and five touchdowns. College coaches took note, and he already has offers from Pitt, Penn State, West Virginia, Akron, Bowling Green, Maryland, Michigan, Toledo and UNLV. He also intercepted seven passes last season.
3. Jance Henry
Central Valley
Sophomore, 5-8, 195
The program that produced standouts Jordan Whitehead and Robert Foster has another one. Henry ran for a pair of 200-yard games last season and finished his freshman year with a strong second half. In all, he scored 13 touchdowns and gained 1,008 yards on 144 carries. Parkway coaches voted Henry and Aliquippa’s Tikey Hayes as the first-team all-conference running backs. Henry has college offers from Pitt, West Virginia, Akron, Central Florida, Miami (Ohio), Michigan State, N.C. State, Ole Miss, Syracuse, Toledo, UConn, UNLV and Wisconsin.
4. Elijah Faulkner
Central Catholic
Senior, 5-10, 190
Central Catholic’s passing attack may have drawn more attention, but Faulkner was a problem for opposing defenses. He rushed for 1,426 yards on 194 carries and scored a team-high 19 touchdowns. A 67-yard TD run against Gateway was his longest. Among returning rushers in WPIAL 6A, Faulkner ranks first. In track season, he won a WPIAL title in long jump. He has college offers from Central Michigan, Cornell, Eastern Michigan, Fordham, Howard, Navy, Villanova and Youngstown State.
Watch Elijah Faulkner highlights
5. Donald Barksdale
Steel Valley
Senior, 5-10, 180
Barksdale helped Steel Valley reach the WPIAL finals for the second year in a row last season after winning a title as a sophomore. He carried the ball 267 times for 2,061 yards, giving him an average of 22 carries per game and 7.7 yards per carry. He scored 37 touchdowns, which ranked second best in the WPIAL. His touchdown total included punt and interception returns. He lists college offers from Duquesne, Robert Morris, Albany, Bowling Green, Bryant, Central State, Howard, Merrimack and Morgan State.
Watch Donald Barksdale highlights
One to watch
Kemon Spell
McKeesport
Sophomore, 5-10, 180
Another talented running back in the WPIAL’s sophomore class, Spell already committed to Penn State. The only thing lacking in his game might be experience. He had a limited role in McKeesport’s offense last year with 579 yards rushing on 42 carries and 124 yards receiving on eight catches. Expect his workload to increase. He scored 13 times last season, including once on a punt return. His other college offers are from Pitt, West Virginia, Akron, Florida State, Marshall, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Syracuse, UNLV and Wisconsin.
• • • • •
Position breakdowns
QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DL | LB | CB | S | K
Top five coaching changes for 2024
Chris Harlan is a TribLive reporter covering sports. He joined the Trib in 2009 after seven years as a reporter at the Beaver County Times. He can be reached at charlan@triblive.com.
Tags: Aliquippa, Central Catholic, Central Valley, McKeesport, Steel Valley, West Mifflin
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