A former Penn State running back who transferred to a fellow Big Ten school is no longer with that program.
He had just been added to the roster in July and is now off it before Week 1.
Before Nebraska, Hayes spent his first college season at Penn State. He ended the year with three carries for 18 yards, all in the Pinstripe Bowl against Clemson. That ended up being Hayes’ last game at PSU. After initially announcing that he had intended to stay at PSU, he entered the transfer portal a little more than a week after it opened.
Hayes spent the spring semester at Iowa Western Community College.
Before Penn State, Hayes became one of the best players in the history of one of Pennsylvania’s premier high school programs: Alliquippa.
He rushed for 1,723 yards and 23 touchdowns in one season.
Most players would do anything to do that as a senior, and some would even take that total for a career.
Hayes put up those numbers as a freshman.
The next season was even better. Hayes ran for 2,011 yards and 33 touchdowns. The year after that? 2,239 yards and 26 touchdowns.
Hayes’ senior season didn’t go as well statistically due to him being hampered by injury. But still, he went for 1,022 yards and 17 touchdowns on just 97 carries, good for 10.5 yards per carry.
Of course, Hayes’ talents caught Penn State’s eye, and he committed there in late September 2023.
