The physical gifts have always been there for Michigan City’s Jaden Hart.
But, as Wolves coach Phil Mason explained, a better understanding of how the offense operates has turned Hart into a running back capable of turning a few inches of daylight into a massive chunk of yards — the kind of traits that have Hart on the radars of coaches from Power Five programs.
“He understands where his fits are going to be on certain plays, and he’s reading his offensive linemen,” Mason said. “When he puts that foot in the ground to get through a hole, it doesn’t take much. He’s going to explode through it and get yardage that the average high school kid isn’t going to get.”
That’s what makes Hart one of the top running backs to watch in Northwest Indiana entering his junior season. That group also includes a trio of seniors: Hobart’s Trey Gibson, Hanover Central’s Kyle Haessly and Crown Point’s Elijah Tiawhan.
The 6-foot, 200-pound Hart rushed for 860 yards and 10 touchdowns last season, when Michigan City reached a Class 5A semistate. He also had 20 receptions for 207 yards and two TDs.
Mason said one of the keys behind those numbers is Hart’s willingness to attack the heart of defenses, not just the perimeter.
“When he was a freshman, he still had some of those — we hate to use it, but it’s the only term we have — Pop Warner instincts, where he’s going to bounce everything outside,” Mason said. “Now he really understands that, when we’re running the ball inside, that’s where the play is going to develop. He’s not as timid about where he should be.”
Trey Gibson: It remains to be seen whether the Brickies running back is faster this season. But Gibson said he certainly feels faster after his offseason training program.
The 6-0 Gibson was listed at 190 pounds last season. He jumped to 200 by the spring but then dropped 5 pounds to enter this season at what he called “a really lean 195.”
Throughout the training, he had one thing in mind.
“That was my biggest downfall last year: my top-end speed,” he said.
Much of Gibson’s weightlifting targeted the lower half of his body — especially his hamstrings — and he supplemented those workouts by practicing with Hobart’s track team to improve his running fundamentals.
“I had a really short, choppy stride,” he said. “So I’ve been working to open up my stride when I make it to the open field.”
Gibson’s numbers last season, his first with Hobart after transferring from Wheeler, were impressive. He rushed for 1,655 yards and 33 touchdowns on 223 carries as the Brickies reached a Class 4A sectional final. He also had 23 catches for 374 yards and three TDs.
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But Gibson said he believes he can produce even more as a result of his offseason work.
“Once I started leaning down, I could tell that the muscle was there and the fat was shaved off,” he said. “I really feel more explosive.”
Kyle Haessly: The Wildcats running back said he was not happy with his numbers last season.
He didn’t mean his rushing stats. He had 1,380 yards and 24 TDs on 211 carries.
Haessly said he believes he can contribute more in the passing game.
“I don’t think I even had 100 receiving yards last year,” he said.
Haessly is right. He had just two catches for 37 yards.
“I struggled with dropping the ball a lot,” he said. “Something clicked in me, that I knew I had to work on this.”
Haessly didn’t have an elaborate plan to improve his pass-catching ability. It was simple repetition, combining catching drills with footwork and route-running drills.
“That was one of my biggest focuses this offseason, trying to become a dual threat,” he said. “In the offseason, I was going to camps, I was running routes, and I feel like I’m catching the ball more now.”
He also said he feels faster after adding 15 pounds of muscle.
Haessly’s current focus is Hanover Central’s continued improvement. The Wildcats won their first sectional title last season.
“We’re looking to get back to the regional like we did last year and hopefully go even further,” he said.
Elijah Tiawhan: Crown Point coach Craig Buzea is expecting more from Tiawhan this season.
Tiawhan rushed for 914 yards and seven TDs on 159 carries last season, Buzea’s first as coach.
“He was as raw as you can get last year,” Buzea said. “Nice athlete, strong, but just raw. He’s understanding the game more this year. Last year, it seemed like, on every play, we were telling him what to do and how to do it. There’s very little of that this year.”
Before Tiawhan’s junior season, his weight training focused on the lower half of his body, allowing him to consistently handle double-digit carries.
He was a regular in the weight room again this offseason, and the combination of his physical and mental development has Buzea excited to see what Tiawhan produces on Friday nights.
“He was very tentative until the end of last year because his brain was tying up his feet,” Buzea said. “Now he’s much looser and able to show his athletic ability.”
Dave Melton is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.