Chris Hayes brings size, special-teams grit, and developmental upside to Southern Miss's front
In the 2024 season, Southern Miss listed Chris Hayes at 6-3, 260 and said he played in nine games, with most of his work coming on special teams—so the profile is more grinder than stat-sheet monster right now[1]. What makes him interesting is the frame, the climb, and the room to grow: he is a redshirt sophomore from Starkville with a defensive-line build that can still add power, and he was rated as a 67 overall in EA Sports College Football 26, hinting at a solid baseline rather than a finished product[1][9]. If you want a young DL with effort, versatility, and developmental upside, he fits the “bet on traits” category.
