Fifth-year senior Dayon Hayes came to Texas A&M to be part of the defensive end rotation, and the Aggies will need him in 2025.
In this series, we’re looking at 10 players who could have a major impact on the success or failure of the 2025 Texas A&M football team. Some are starters, some aren’t — but they’re certainly not getting the attention they deserve.
The series continues with defensive end Dayon Hayes, who is in his fifth collegiate season but his first at Texas A&M after stops at Pitt and Colorado.
Class: Redshirt senior
Height/Weight: 6-foot-3, 260 pounds
2024 stats: 16 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 2 sacks in four games
Why he’s so important: Both of Texas A&M’s starting defensive ends from 2024 are in the NFL after having been drafted in the first 51 picks. Replacing them was a key objective in the offseason, and Hayes is a solid fit. He had more sacks than Shemar Stewart in less than four full games and was an All-ACC selection at Pitt in 2023, when he racked up 45 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and 4 sacks.
Hayes won’t have to play all the time — T.J. Searcy will also get a lot of snaps — but he brings a veteran presence and big game experience to the Aggie defensive line. He’s a one-year rental, but also allows Texas A&M to continue to develop players like Marco Jones, Solomon Williams and Kendall Jackson.
Perhaps most importantly, Hayes knows how to get pressure on the quarterback. The Aggies could certainly use a defensive end who can create a pass rush on their own, something that would allow coach Mike Elko and defensive coordinator Jay Bateman to get more creative with their scheme.
Category: General Sports
