high-upside Miami linebacker with early ball production, now off-field uncertainty clouds his outlook
In 2024, Hayes flashed as a true freshman at Miami with 11 games played, 1 interception, 1 pass breakup and 4 total tackles, showing the instincts and length that made him a highly regarded recruit. At 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds, he brings rangy coverage ability and downhill size that fit modern LB usage, but his on-field sample is still very small. His fit depends less on talent than on trust and availability, because recent off-field legal issues have sharply complicated his immediate football future.
