July 15, 2026
Former Penn State RB Tikey Hayes Transfers to Nebraska for 2026 Season
The former four-star recruit joins Matt Rhule's program with four years of eligibility remaining after a spring stint at Iowa Western Community College.
Nebraska is set to add former Penn State running back Tikey Hayes to its 2026 roster, giving the Cornhuskers additional depth in the backfield as head coach Matt Rhule continues to reshape the program through the transfer portal.
HuskerOnline confirmed the move with Iowa Western Community College head coach Scott Strohmeier, who indicated Hayes intends to join the Nebraska football program. Hayes had left Penn State in January and spent the spring with Iowa Western, where he had been projected to play for the Reivers before his change of plans.
Hayes arrives in Lincoln as a former four-star recruit with four years of eligibility remaining, a significant asset for a program building toward Big Ten competitiveness under Rhule.
Big Ten Rival Becomes a Source of Talent
The transfer marks Nebraska's latest effort to strengthen its depth chart by drawing from within the Big Ten. Hayes spent time in Penn State's program before departing this past January, and his path through Iowa Western Community College before landing at Nebraska adds an unusual wrinkle to an otherwise straightforward portal addition.
Nebraska's backfield has been an area of focus for Rhule as he works to establish a more consistent ground game. Adding a player of Hayes's recruiting pedigree and remaining eligibility provides both immediate depth and long-term flexibility heading into the 2026 campaign.
Hayes is expected to be part of the Cornhuskers' roster when the 2026 season begins, though his specific role within the depth chart has not been detailed in reports confirming the move.
