Lineman Hayes goes to Titans in 4th round

He is first from WSSU to be drafted since '96

Credit: Photo Courtesy of WSSU

Defensive end William Hayes was the 103rd overall pick in the NFL Draft.

By: By John Dell | JOURNAL REPORTER
Published: April 28, 2008

William Hayes had no choice but to leave church early yesterday morning.

"I didn't have any cell reception there so I went back home and waited," said Hayes, a defensive end from Winston-Salem State.

Shortly after arriving back home in High Point, Hayes got the call from the Tennessee Titans that he was a fourth-round draft pick.

"One of their team officials said ‘How would you like to be a Titan?' Hayes said. "And I started joking with him and said ‘I thought I was going in the first round.'

"But it was just a big celebration here after that."

Hayes, who led the Rams in sacks this past season with 81/2 and was second on the team in tackles with 78, becomes the first WSSU player drafted since running back Richard Huntley was taken in the fourth round in 1996 by the Atlanta Falcons. He also becomes the first recruit of Coach Kermit Blount of the Rams to be drafted in Blount's 15 years.

Hayes also made some history as the first player drafted in the NFL since WSSU moved from Division II to Division I-AA (now the Football Championship Subdivision).

Robert Hayes Jr., who is William's father, said: "This is a great day for our family and we can't believe it. His uncle is here at the house with us and we all just kind of started jumping around when William told us the Titans had drafted him."

Hayes, who is listed at 6-2 and around 260 pounds, was the 103rd pick overall. He was the fourth player taken in the fourth round.

"I've been waiting for this day for a long time and there was a lot of work involved but I made it," said Hayes, a graduate of High Point Andrews.

According to NFL.com, Hayes was a bit of a surprise to go that high in the draft, but the Titans need a defensive end after losing Antwan Odom to the Bengals in free agency. Hayes wasn't invited to the NFL Draft Combine, but had a good showing at the Wake Forest pro day in late March.

Hayes was the second defensive end taken by the Titans through four rounds. In the second round they took Jason Jones of Eastern Michigan, who is 6-5 and 273 pounds.

Hayes said that it will take him time to fully grasp what has happened.

"This is like a dream and I'm still having trouble realizing that I was actually drafted," Hayes said.

"I'm just so happy at this point that it's hard to put into words what this means."

Coming out of high school Hayes was set on going to Clemson but didn't have the grades to play right away. Clemson wanted Hayes to go to a prep school, but Hayes signed with the Rams.

After a redshirt season at WSSU, Hayes jumped into the starting lineup at linebacker. He played both linebacker and defensive end in his career at WSSU but was a lot more effective on the line.

Hayes thrived the last two seasons under defensive coordinator Mike Ketchum of the Rams.

Blount said that Hayes was one of those special players that don't come around too often.

"The first thing is I'd like to congratulate William and his family because this is a huge deal," Blount said.

"The second thing this does is puts our university out there on a national level and that's something that can only help us with this football program and where we want to take it."

■ John Dell can be reached at 727-4081 or at jdell@wsjournal.com.