Nebraska’s running back room picked up an unexpected jolt Tuesday when Tikey Hayes committed to the Huskers, giving Matt Rhule’s team a late addition with Big Ten experience already in his background.
Hayes began his college career at Penn State before leaving the program in January. He spent this spring at Iowa Western Community College, where he was projected to be the Reivers’ starter this fall. HuskerOnline confirmed with IWCC head coach Scott Strohmeier that Hayes plans to join Nebraska when fall camp opens later this month.
“They are taking him now as a late-season add from what I know,” Strohmeier said about his projected starter making the jump to Nebraska on Tuesday. “I was informed (on Monday) night.”
At 5-foot-11 and 200 pounds, Hayes brings a little more size and a little more certainty to a room that could use both. He played in just one game last season, but that appearance came in a bowl setting, where he logged 3 carries for 18 yards against Clemson in the Pinstripe Bowl.
The bigger value for Nebraska may simply be numbers. The Huskers don’t have much college experience in the backfield beyond Mekhi Nelson and Isaiah Mozee. Connor Booth brings in-state promise, but the source material notes he likely won’t be a Big Ten starter, while true freshman Jamal Rule has the talent but no college snaps yet and could run into the usual growing pains.
Hayes also arrives with a résumé that suggests he can handle volume. Before Penn State, the former 3-star back piled up huge numbers at Aliquippa, including 1,022 yards and 17 touchdowns on 97 carries as a senior. His junior season brought 2,239 yards and 26 touchdowns on 230 carries, followed by 2,011 yards and 33 touchdowns on 198 carries as a sophomore and 1,723 yards and 23 touchdowns on 221 carries as a freshman.
His arrival also puts a spotlight on Nelson’s status. Nelson looked like he was making a case to be the starter after the bowl game against Utah, but he was arrested in Florida earlier this summer, and the university has not said anything publicly about what comes next for him or his standing with the team.
For Nebraska, the move doesn’t settle the backfield. It does, however, give the Huskers another option after the staff drew criticism over the winter for not adding a transfer running back to replace All-World back Emmett Johnson when he declared for the NFL Draft. Whether Hayes is here to push for a role, cover for a possible Nelson exit, or simply deepen the room, Nebraska has at least added a back who has already been through the Big Ten grind.
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