By: Chris Harlan
Monday, August 11, 2025 | 6:03 PM
Mike Darnay | Mon Valley Independent
McKeesport’s Kemon Spell practices ahead of the 2024 season.
Christopher Horner | TribLive
West Mifflin’s Armand Hill works out during practice on Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, at Titan Stadium in West Mifflin.
Christopher Horner | TribLive
Thomas Jefferson’s Tyler Eber carries through the Aliquippa defense during their WPIAL Class 4A semifinal on Friday, Nov. 8, 2024, at Chartiers Valley.
Christopher Horner | TribLive
Montour’s Caden Halajcio carries the ball at practice on Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, in Robinson.
Christopher Horner | TribLive
Central Catholic’s Chrys Black (1) celebrates with Bradley Gompers after intercepting a pass in the end zone to seal the victory against Harrisburg during their PIAA Class 6A semifinal on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, at Mansion Park in Altoona.
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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 2025 season.
1. Kemon Spell
McKeesport
Junior, 5-9, 185
Two websites that analyze college football recruits — 247Sports and ESPN – list Spell as the No. 1 running back nationally in the 2027 class. His opponents in the WPIAL probably won’t disagree. The Penn State recruit rushed for 1,617 yards and 24 touchdowns on 142 carries last season as a first-team all-conference player for the WPIAL Class 4A runner-up. He averaged 11.4 yards per carry bolstered by seven touchdown runs of 55 yards or more. His longest TD was a 71-yarder against Belle Vernon. Regarded as a consensus four-star prospect among recruiting sites, 247Sports ranked him 14th overall among all recruits in his class. ESPN had him 15th. Spell chose Penn State over offers from Pitt, West Virginia, Florida State, Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Ohio State, UCLA and Wisconsin.
2. Armand Hill
West Mifflin
Junior, 5-10, 180
Hill is yet another explosive runner already committed to a Power 4 school. The West Virginia recruit rushed for 1,693 yards and 23 touchdowns on 188 carries last season, earning first-team all-conference honors in the Greater Allegheny along with Spell. He averaged nine yards per carry. His rushing touchdowns included five longer than 55 yards including a season-best 85 yarder. Among college recruits, Rivals.com ranked Hill as the 11th-best running back nationally in the 2027 class while 247Sports ranked him 14th overall at his position. All labeled him a four-star prospect. He also received Power 4 offers from Pitt, Penn State, Maryland, Michigan and Syracuse before committing in March to the Mountaineers.
3. Tyler Eber
Thomas Jefferson
Junior, 5-10, 170
No running back showed more durability than Eber, who led the WPIAL with 420 carries as a sophomore. He turned those chances into a WPIAL-leading 2,276 rushing yards and 33 touchdowns. He averaged 30 carries and 162.6 yards per game. He shouldered more than 40 carries three times, including a season-high 48 vs. West Allegheny. In five playoff games combined, Eber rushed for 934 yards on 198 carries, helping Thomas Jefferson win the WPIAL Class 4A title and reach the state semifinals. In all, he topped 100 yards rushing in 13 of 14 games, earning first-team all-conference honors in the Big Six. His longest touchdown run was a 61-yarder, part of a five-TD game against Chartiers Valley.
4. Caden Halajcio
Montour
Senior, 5-11, 185
A third-year starter, Halajcio handled 184 carries and topped 1,000 yards from scrimmage last season earning second-team all-conference honors in the Class 4A Parkway. He had four 100-yard games, including a 21-carry, 167-yard effort in the playoffs. He scored just four touchdowns in a pass-friendly offense, a TD total surely to rise this fall. He lists offers from Robert Morris, Mercyhurst, Clarion, Slippery Rock and Wheeling.
Watch Caden Halajcio highlights
5. Maclane Miller
Pine-Richland
Senior, 5-8, 195
Miller was a workhorse in Pine-Richland’s run to the WPIAL Class 5A title. He rushed for 1,303 yards and 15 touchdowns on 232 carries, earning first-team all-conference honors. Miller’s best game was a 36-carry, 208-yard, two-touchdown effort in the WPIAL semifinals. He averaged 5.6 yards per carry and 108.6 yards per game. His longest touchdown run was a 39-yarder. He received a Clarion offer in June.
Watch Maclane Miller highlights
One to watch
Chrys Black Jr.
Central Catholic
Sophomore, 5-8, 175
Black played a key role for Central Catholic’s defense a year ago by making 44 tackles and intercepting three passes. However, this year he’s also the Vikings’ lead running back. He accumulated 646 total yards last season as a rusher, receiver and kick returner. A dozen college coaches have already offered him a scholarship, including from Power 4 schools West Virginia, Cal, Indiana, Kentucky and Maryland.
Watch Chrys Black Jr. highlights
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Position breakdowns
QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DL | DE | LB | CB | S | K
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: Central Catholic, McKeesport, Montour, Pine-Richland, Thomas Jefferson, West Mifflin