Avery Hankey, Bonner-Prendergast High School’s running back, is short-in-stature but big on heart, and he’s learned patience on and off the field, writes Aaron Carter for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Hankey led the Catholic League in rushing last season, but the 5-foot-8, 175-pound player still feels like people don’t see him as big enough, strong enough, or good enough.

“It feels like I’m an underdog,” Hankey said. “Feels like I’m slept on, snoozed on. Feels like a lot of people just think that I’m not that good.”

The nearly 600 yards he rushed in the last three weeks shows otherwise.

Hankey was regarded as one of the area’s top eighth-graders when he was with the Drexel Hill Raiders youth football team.

The pandemic messed up his freshman year at Bonner-Prendergast, and he was eclipsed by starter Mason Peterson, now a running back at East Stroudsburg University, in his sophomore year.

Coach Jack Muldoon said it’s been tougher for recruiters to notice Hankey because of his size and because he’s not a veteran player.

He expects Hankey to be recruited after the season ends.

“He’s a very talented running back,” Muldoon said. “He’s going to be very productive for any school he attends.”

Find out more about Avery Hankey in The Philadelphia Inquirer.