2023 HSSN football position-by-position breakdown: Scouting the running backs

By: Chris Harlan
Thursday, August 17, 2023 | 11:04 AM

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TribLive HSSN will break down the top players at one position per day until Week Zero. Here’s a look at the top running backs for the 2023 season.

1. Quinton Martin

Belle Vernon

Senior, 6-3, 205

The Penn State recruit scored 31 times last season, including 22 rushing touchdowns, as Belle Vernon won its first state championship. He had 145 carries for 1,279 yards, an average of 8.8 yards per attempt. His longest TD runs covered 80 and 79 yards. In the WPIAL finals, he scored three times, once rushing, once receiving and once on a punt return. A versatile back, he caught 28 passes last season and earned first-team all-state honors in Class 3A. Rivals.com ranks him as the fourth-best running back prospect in the country among 2024 graduates. He had nearly two dozen college offers and chose the Nittany Lions from a list that included Michigan, Ohio State, Florida State, Texas and others.

Watch Quinton Martin highlights

2. Tiqwai Hayes

Aliquippa

Junior, 6-1, 198

Hayes has proven his durability by carrying the football 245 times as a freshman and 252 times more as a sophomore. He’s turned those chances into championships. With “Tikey” in the backfield, the Quips won the past two WPIAL 4A titles, won a state championship in 2021 and were runners-up last year. Hayes has rushed for 3,727 yards and scored 56 touchdowns in two seasons, earning all-state honors both times. He has close to 20 college offers, including Pitt, Penn State and West Virginia, along with Michigan, Ohio State and others.

Watch Tiqwai Hayes highlights

3. David Davis

Imani Christian

Sophomore, 5-10, 165

Davis opened eyes as a freshman when he rushed for 261 and 293 yards in consecutive weeks. College recruiters took notice, and soon he listed offers from Pitt, Penn State, West Virginia, Duke, Kentucky and Nebraska, among others. He’ll probably play defensive back in college, but the Saints use him as a two-way standout nowadays to compete in WPIAL Class 2A. His longest touchdown run last fall was a 98-yarder, and he earned all-conference honors.

Watch David Davis highlights

4. Amir Key

Penn Hills

Senior, 5-8, 185

Key scored in nine of the team’s 10 games last season. He finished the year with 1,249 yards on 177 carries and scored 13 touchdowns. His best game was a 20-carry, 216-yard, three-TD performance in a win over Pine-Richland, the eventual WPIAL and PIAA champion. He showed his speed that night with a 71-yard touchdown run. He earned all-conference honors. His first college offer arrived in June from St. Francis (Pa.).

Watch Amir Key highlights

5. Evan Wright

Mars

Senior, 5-8, 175

The speedster had five touchdown runs longer than 60 yards last season, including a 94-yarder and an 81-yarder in the same game. Another of his TDs covered 82 yards. He finished his junior season with 1,333 yards on 157 carries and scored 18 times, earning all-conference honors in Class 4A.

Watch Evan Wright highlights

One to watch

Da’sjon Craggette

Southmoreland

Senior, 5-11, 190

Craggette proved himself as an all-conference back by rushing for 1,033 yards and 16 touchdowns last season, but he’ll be wearing a new uniform this fall after transferring from Greensburg Central Catholic to Geibel Catholic. However, Geibel doesn’t have a football team and instead has a co-op with Southmoreland, so he’ll be in the Scotties’ backfield.

Watch Da’sjon Craggette highlights

• • • • •

Position breakdowns

QB | RB | WR | OL | TE | DL | LB | CB | S | K

Top five coaching changes for 2023

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, Belle Vernon, Imani Christian, Mars, Penn Hills, Southmoreland