Josh Hayes

HISTORY — from college bio

Played in 68 games with 38 starts over parts of six seasons, including 13 starts during his only season at K-State ... Began his career at North Dakota State under head coach Chris Klieman and assistant Joe Klanderman, while he played in three games and redshirted the 2021 season at Virginia before transferring to K-State. .. Finished his career ranking third nationally among active players in career games played.
 
2022 (rs sr): Started each of the final 13 games, ranking third on the team with 71 tackles and tackles for loss with 5.5, while he broke up seven passes ... Set a career high in TFLs after totaling just 3.5 in his previous five seasons ... Set a career high with 11 tackles to go along with a TFL and a pass breakup at Iowa State en route to Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week honors ... Had a career-best 2.0 TFLs against Missouri ... Collected a pass breakup in six-straight games during the middle of the year... Named to the Midseason All-Portal Team by The Athletic.

—at the University of Virginia—
 
2021 (jr): Played in three games, including at Louisville where he made a tackle.

—at North Dakota State—
 
2020 (rs jr): Played in the first six games of the 2020 season, which extended into the spring of 2021 ... Started all six contests at cornerback ... Tied for third on the team with 30 tackles prior to leaving the squad... Also had three pass breakups and a half tackle for loss, the latter being in his final game against North Dakota... Made a season-high seven tackles against both Southern Illinois and Illinois State ... Selected as a team captain.
 
2019 (rs soph): Started all 16 games at cornerback as he helped the Bison win the FCS National Championship ... Earned Second Team All-Missouri Valley Football (MVFC) honors after tallying 59 tackles and 12 passes defended, which included two interceptions ... Helped NDSU lead the FCS in fewest passing yards allowed per game (138.6)... Had six tackles, two interceptions and a pass breakup at South Dakota State to earn MVFC Defensive Player of the Week honors ... Totaled a season-high nine tackles, a half tackle for loss and two pass breakups against UC Davis ... Had a season-high three pass breakups against Northern Iowa, a game that also featured a forced fumble... Tallied his second pick of the year and returned it 33 yards against Western Illinois ... Came away with seven tackles, 1.5 TFLs and a pass breakup in the FCS Championship against James Madison ... Seven of his tackles on the year were on special teams (four kickoff, three punt) to tie for the second most on the team.
 
2018 (redshirt fr): Saw action in all 15 games, including starts against Youngstown State and Missouri State ... Registered 28 tackles, one tackle for loss and three pass breakups ... Had a season-best six tackles in consecutive road victories at Northern Iowa and Western Illinois ... Had a TFL and a pass breakup in the FCS National Championship against Eastern Washington, helping the Bison win the national title... Tied for second on the team with nine special teams tackles, all coming on kickoff coverage.
 
2017 (fr): Played in all 15 games as a true freshman, including his first-career start in the FCS National Championship against James Madison as he helped the Bison win the national title ... Tied his season high of three tackles against the Dukes, while he also forced a fumble... Also had three tackles in the second round of the playoffs against San Diego ... Totaled 15 tackles and three pass breakups on the season.
 
High school: A three-year letter winner and two-year starter at Lake Gibson High School (Lakeland, FL) under head coaches Keith DeMyer and Doug DeMyer... Played safety, linebacker and wide receiver, while he also returned kickoffs... Tallied seven interceptions, 10 pass breakups, two forced fumbles and three recoveries during his prep career... Recorded 67 tackles, four interceptions and five pass breakups as a senior... Also recovered a fumble and blocked two kicks... Helped the Braves advance to the state championship game and earn a 13-1 record during his final season... Named a team captain as a senior... Also competed in track and field.
 
PERSONAL

Josh Hayes was born April 24, 1999... Son of Eugene and Dawn Hayes... Has one sister, Sydney, and a brother, Eugene Jr... Daughter, Leilani, was born in September 2019.

2022

defensive
TFL	QB HUR	TOT	TD	PD	SACKS	SOLO
5.5	0.0	61.0	0.0	7.0	0.0	41.0