Jun 30, 2015 4 min read

Hunter Hayes did the unthinkable during South Fayette’s march to a second consecutive PIAA Class AA title. He made breaking tackles and scampering for long touchdowns look easy.

A junior running back and safety for the Lions in 2014, Hayes made a case for himself to be labeled one of the top all-around players in the WPIAL. His 198 points were more than 50 teams in the district during his first year as a full-time starter.

The months following South Fayette’s 32 consecutive victories did not yield much interest from Division I schools. The 5-11, 185-pound runner had to wait a few months, but his recruitment has heated up before the start of his senior year.

Over the past six weeks, Hayes received Division I scholarship offers from Bucknell, Lafayette, Penn, Cornell, Colgate, Robert Morris, Holy Cross and St. Francis (Pa.).

“It’s been a pretty crazy month,” Hayes said. “The schools I have offers from are mixed half and half with me playing offense and defense. It really doesn’t matter where I play. I just want to play college football. That’s all that matters.”

No one can blame college coaches for being open to Hayes playing on offense or defense. As a running back, he produced one of the best postseason performances in South Fayette football history. Hayes ran for 1,168 yards and 12 touchdowns during seven playoff games.

That includes a 263-yard performance against Dunmore in the state championship game, which was highlighted by his 95-yard touchdown run in the third quarter as the Lions capped their perfect season with a 28-16 victory.

“I’m looking for the best education I can get,” Hayes said. “If I can get that in a college with the kind of football I want and the kind of social life I want – all those factors play in with the size of the college and distance. I don’t really have it narrowed down or anything. I’m just weighing my options.”

Hayes, an Observer-Reporter Elite 11 selection, averaged eight yards per carry and finished second in the WPIAL with 2,103 yards. Along with scoring 33 touchdowns, the junior had 78 ½ tackles on defense with four interceptions.

His ability to stop the run and excel in pass coverage wowed coaches who project Hayes as a well-rounded safety at the next level.

The interest has kept Hayes busy this summer. He attended camps at Duquesne, Purdue, Pitt, William & Mary and plans to visit Cornell later this month. Luckily, three of his former teammates who accepted Division I scholarships – Brett Brumbaugh, Logan Sharp and Justin Watson – offered advice.

“The process is really something else,” Hayes said. “It’s like no other and it’s a cool process. Those guys told me that it’s crazy. You have to enjoy the ride. A few coaches have told me that this is the only time in your life that people are going to really want you and they come to you. It’s fun and enjoyable, but it’s kind of a job.”

Once preseason camp opens for South Fayette next month, Hayes’ new job will begin. Lions head coach Joe Rossi already labled Hayes as the next face of South Fayette football. It’s a title that Hayes, who dedicated himself to become a more vocal leader this fall, embraced.

“After that playoff run Hunter had, he took over as the face of our program,” Rossi said. “It’s all hard work for him. Even when he was a sophomore, we saw him in practice and knew he’d be special. He’s similar to Sharp and Watson with the way those guys work.”

It did not always come easy for Hayes. Early in the 2014 season, he struggled to follow his blocks during practice. The talent and ability were there, but Hayes needed to embrace his new role as the Lions’ every-down back.

He did that and more. Now, Hayes is impressing coaches at prospect camps with his athleticism and ability to play on both sides of the football. He doesn’t plan on slowing down anytime soon.

It doesn’t matter to Hayes and his teammates that 13 seniors are gone. They plan on continuing the dynasty built over the past five years and are setting their sights on bringing another state championship to South Fayette.

“We’ll keep playing our game and keep playing how we have – South Fayette football,” Hayes said. “We have a lot coming back and a lot of young kids who need to step up. If that happens, I think we can do it again.”