2024 HSSN football position-by-position breakdown: Scouting the running backs

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

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

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

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

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.

5. Donald Barksdale

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.

One to watch

Kemon Spell

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.

Tags: Aliquippa, Central Catholic, Central Valley, McKeesport, Steel Valley, West Mifflin