Notre Dame might not ever be able to fully replace Louis Nix. There just aren’t a too many young men quite like Irish Chocolate. It looks like the Irish may just have another defensive lineman on their hands that is a character on and off the field though with incoming freshman Jay Hayes.
City Gridiron is program broadcast in the New York City area profiling the star high school football players in the area both on and off the field. They recent did a profile of one of Notre Dame’s earliest commitments for the #GoldenArmy14 – Brooklyn native Jay Hayes.
In the clips below you get a glimpse of who Jay Hayes is off the field. On the field we all know him as a 4-star defensive line recruit Irish fans are hoping continues the recent tradition of strong defensive line play for the Irish by the likes of Nix, Stephon Tuitt, Ian Williams, Sheldon Day, and company. Â Earlier this year, we ha a chance to talk with Hayes about the kind of player he is on the field as well.
Off the field though, it looks like the Notre Dame coaching staff has done an excellent job of securing the commitment of a special player off the field as well.
Welcome aboard – GO IRISH!
With Nile Sykes and Kolin Hill having committed to play ILB, what looked dour a month ago seems rosier now. We are the clubhouse leaders for Nyle Morgan. Our depth chart for ILB in 2014 could be Grace/Moor-Deeb/Randoph/Schmidt and then at LEAST three frosh, Sykes, Hill and probably Morgan. The staff now has the option to be patient with Drue Tranquill and not force his development, but waiting to see if he’s more suited for Safety or ILB.
The Golden Army is getting reinforcements!~!
He’s quick, and not out of shape, though he needs a lot of muscle.
He’s already had dialogue with the Olsen kid who played at Poly and is somewhere in the NFL. He’s coachable coming in, and that counts for something. If we corral Morgan and Sykes, we will have an astounding class at DL and LB. Expect 5 to play, 6 to redshirt, but after 2014 we lose only Utopu and Moore (if they’re invited back) and Ishaq. 2014 may be dicey, but after that we’re on our way.
Jay Hayes seems to be a likable young man. In previous interviews, his enthusiasm for Notre Dame was palpable. It would be impossible not to wish him success and fulfillment at ND.
As for his play, unfortunately he played for a school that did not play good teams. So it is unclear how refined his technique will be. On the other hand, he gets four stars from every service; and Alabama offered him. In the end, how much he develops and progresses may largely be up to him. We wish him well.
Nice kid.