COUDERSPORT — Not many caught Hayden Keck on the football field in his four years with the Coudersport Falcons.
The dual-threat quarterback was known for his breakaway speed and his execution of run-pass option plays. His 4.69 40-yard dash time would likely catch the eyes of college coaches, as would accolades such as two District 9 titles, four Allegheny Mountain League (AML) titles, two Big 30 All-Star selections, and AML Most Valuable Player award, the Co-Big 30 Player of the Year Award and an invitation to the Big 30 Charity Classic Game.
However, his collegiate recruiting process was not as simple as some may expect.
In the tenth grade, Keck started to try to get his name, and game film, noticed via Twitter, which ultimately made a significant difference in being noticed by a selection of Division II programs.
“During my ninth grade season, I really started to love football,” Keck said. “After my sophomore year, I started to really think I had a chance to play in college.”
Despite this goal, Keck had not really heard from many college coaches heading into his junior year. That changed after he spent the time sharing his accolades with coaches and recruiters.
Despite hearing phrases such as, “We do not really recruit in your area or district,” some Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) institutions could not pass up the Coudy standout after they saw how his speed paired with his ability to throw the deep ball.
The first four schools on Keck’s radar were Bloomsburg, Kutztown, Millersville and Shippensburg: Each of which he visited early in his recruiting process.
However, Mercyhurst came into the mix later on, and ultimately became the right fit for the Potter County native.
“I really liked the small campus and the coaching staff, “ Keck said. “I just felt like the Mercyhurst program had the most to offer me, personally.”
With Keck’s decision, Sheela and Walter Keck’s children are now both playing college sports in Erie.
Hayden’s sister, Haley, joined the Penn State Behrend women’s basketball program in 2020. Hayden expressed excitement about beginning a new career in Erie.
“It is definitely new that we won’t be playing for Coudersport anymore, but I am excited for it to be new and a little bit different for us,” he said.
Like his older sister, Keck was also a standout basketball player, and concluded his high school career with a District 9 title and over 1,000 career points.
Keck said that the community support he received, plus the availability of consistently successful athletic programs, have helped Coudersport stand out in a multitude of sports in recent memory.
“I loved growing up here, and there not being much to do has really inspired many to work harder at sports,” Keck said. “There are a lot of multi-sport athletes who have helped make our programs successful by putting in the extra time in the summers.”
Keck will miss the Friday night lights in Coudy, as well as having his family consistently with him. He credits his father for getting him involved in sports from an early age, and also credits his mom for being the consistent, encouraging, positive energy in his life.
Like his mother, Keck will study to be an educator. He’ll major in elementary education. He will also work with kids this summer as a lifeguard at the Coudersport community pool.
Aside from work, Keck’s summer has consisted of working and training to prepare for his first collegiate season of football.
Keck is still unsure if he will be selected to play varsity or if he will be redshirted for the chance to stay for five total years.
The Friday night lights that Keck loves will turn into Saturday afternoon showdowns.
Keck couldn’t imagine his life without playing the game of football. Thankfully, he does not have to just yet.
