Daelin Hayes Is Notre Dame's Present And Future Hybrid

Since the turn of the century, no single position in Notre Dame football recruiting is more coveted — or more difficult to sign or keep — than a game-changing, speed pass rusher off the edge.

That is why freshman Daelin Hayes could become one of the most evaluated and central figures in the years to come.

The five-star recruit from Belleville, Mich., might be Notre Dame’s best hope of providing perhaps the single element most lacking. During their 3-6 start, the Irish were tied for 114th nationally in sacks among 128 teams (playing two triple-option teams and a third game in a hurricane won’t help), and 83rd in tackles for loss.

In the seven recruiting cycles from 2004-10, the lone player signed at defensive end by Notre Dame who was drafted by the NFL was Kapron Lewis-Moore from the 2008 recruiting class.

An immense breakthrough occurred in 2011 by landing the elite triumvirate of Aaron Lynch, Stephon Tuitt and Ishaq Williams. Lynch was named a Freshman All-American before transferring, while Tuitt earned All-America notice during the 12-1 campaign in 2012 when he recorded 12 sacks. He became a second-round pick after his junior year.

Since then, almost all of the top projected speed rushers at weak side end have either transferred (Kolin Hill to Texas Tech, and Jhonny Williams to Toledo), ended up not getting admitted (Bo Wallace, now at Arizona State) or “decommited” (2017 verbal commits Robert Beal opting to stay in Georgia and Donavan Jeter switching to Michigan recently).

Hayes became the outlier in 2016, but with a caveat. Shoulder surgeries and movement around the country limited him to playing only about seven high school games the past three years. The pure athletic skills displayed in camps and in the few games he played merited the five stars, but the overall package arrived with a fragile label. As an early enrollee last January, Hayes was closely monitored by head trainer Rob Hunt and the Irish medical team.

“The physical therapy, Rob Hunt, they got me right,” Hayes said. “I never really rehabbed [the shoulder] the right way and I had never done it that intense. I wanted to get healthy. It was kind like I had a leash. I could practice but I couldn’t do full contact. I guess in a sense there was a tentativeness, but I felt good. Once fall came around and they let me off the chain, I felt great.”

When head coach Brian Kelly was asked about Hayes’ role prior to the Sept. 4 opener at Texas, he remained guarded: “Get lined up right. Don't jump off-sides. Put your jersey on the right way. Just settle into the game.”

Hayes didn’t see any defensive snaps in the opener at Texas and only five against Navy’s triple option last Saturday, but in between while rotating mainly with junior Andrew Trumbetti at weak side end he’s averaged about 18 snaps per contest. He’s been credited with 10 tackles, forced a fumble and the highlight moment was his tipped pass while in excellent coverage in the Sept. 17 loss to Michigan State that resulted in an interception.

That one play demonstrated how Hayes isn’t and won’t exclusively be a pass rusher. In the multiple defensive sets, Hayes will be a hybrid figure, an outside linebacker in the 3-4 or an end in the 4-3. He does not have the 6-6, 300-pound frame of a Tuitt to be an end in the 3-4. Lynch also was 6-6.

Listed at 6-3 1/2, 250 pounds on the roster, Hayes bulked up to 261 pounds last spring before going on a diet that has him now just under 240 pounds. He admits that the rush end role is where he is most comfortable.

“I haven’t truly pass-rushed yet,” Hayes said. “I’ve been doing a lot of dropping [into coverage]. I’ve blitzed occasionally, but I do a lot of dropping more so. I haven’t really gotten the chance to just pass rush like I do in practice. I’m a smaller guy, so being able to use my hands and use my agility and quickness to my advantage has definitely been the biggest thing.”

Consequently, the instant impact label is on hold, and the five-star label means nothing to him.

“That stuff went out the window as soon as I got here,” said Hayes, whose frame is more in line with 2015 Butkus Award winner Jaylon Smith, another former five star whose number 9 he now dons. “As soon as you get to work with these guys, it doesn’t matter. It’s all about hard work.”

Learning how to practice with consistency at the collegiate level has been his top adjustment.

“Every day you have to be detailed in what you do, every day you have to have a killer’s mentality when you go out there,” Hayes said. “If you can’t do in practice, you’re not going to be able to do it in a game.

“The biggest adjustment is just making sure you do your job. In high school you’re like Superman, you want to go all over the place and do everybody’s job. In college you really have to hone in on your assignment, being detailed in that assignment and being able to execute at a high level.”

Senior captain/linebacker James Onwualu, whose eight tackles for loss and five pass breakups lead the team, especially notes how coachable Hayes is.

“He works really hard and continues to learn,” he said. “I can’t say enough good things about him. He’s going to be a great player. He can make a big play because he’s a freak athlete, and the next snap he forgets what we’re even in. It’s not like he doesn’t have the ability; it’s just continuing to work that focus.”

It will be much needed in Notre Dame’s "end game" on defense in the present and especially the future.

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