Selected in the sixth round (181st overall) of the 2023 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Led the NFL in special teams tackles during the 2023 season, finishing with 14. His 14 special teams tackles marked the most by a Buccaneer since Russell Shepard recorded 14 in 2014.
Finished the 2023 regular season with a league-leading 14 special teams tackles.
Made his NFL debut in the Week 1 win at Minnesota. Finished with a team- high-tying 23 special teams snaps, recording one special teams tackle.
Finished with a team-high-tying 20 special teams snaps in the Week 2 victory over Chicago.
In Week 3 vs. Philadelphia, finished with a team-high-tying 19 special teams snaps.
Logged a team-high-tying 21 special teams snaps in the Week 4 victory at New Orleans.
Played a team-high-tying 21 special teams snaps in Week 6 vs. Detroit, finishing with one special teams tackle.
Appeared on special teams in Week 7 vs. Atlanta, playing 14 special teams snaps.
In Week 8 at Buffalo, logged 16 special teams snaps and logged a then-career- high two special teams snaps.
Appeared on special teams in Week 9 at Houston, playing 18 special teams snaps and finishing with two special teams tackles.
Was inactive for Week 10 vs. Tennessee.
In Week 11 at San Francisco, played 15 defensive snaps and recorded his first career defensive tackles, finishing with three. Also added two special teams tackles.
Appeared on special teams in Week 12 at Indianapolis.
In the Week 13 victory over Carolina, played a team-high-tying 26 special teams snaps and recorded one special teams tackle.
Through 13 Weeks, Hayes ranked fourth in the NFL and first among all rookies with 10 special teams tackles.
In the Week 14 victory over Atlanta, appeared on special teams and in a reserve capacity on defense. Finished with one special teams tackle.
Was inactive for Week 15 at Green Bay.
In the Week 16 victory over Jacksonville, appeared on special teams and finished with one special teams tackle.
Through 16 weeks, Hayes led all rookies and ranked second in the NFL in special teams tackles with 12.
In Week 17 vs. New Orleans, appeared on special teams.
In the Week 18 victory at Carolina, appeared primarily on special teams and recorded two special teams tackles.
Appeared in a reserve capacity on defense and on special teams in the Wild Card round victory over the Philadelphia Eagles and the Divisional round contest at the Detroit Lions.
Appeared in 68 career games across six seasons between North Dakota State (2017-20), the University of Virginia (2021) and Kansas State University (2022).
In his collegiate career, amassed 204 tackles, 26 passes defensed, three forced fumbles and two interceptions.
As a super senior at Kansas State in 2022, started 13 games and recorded 71 tackles (a career-high 5.5 for loss), seven passes defensed and one forced fumble.
At the University of Virginia in 2021, appeared in three games and logged one tackle.
In 2020 at North Dakota State, appeared in six games, logging 30 tackles and three passes defensed.
In 2019, started all 16 games at cornerback for a North Dakota State team that won the FCS National Championship. Earned second team All-Missouri Valley Football honors after recording 59 tackles, 10 passes defensed, two interceptions and one forced fumble.
In 2018, appeared in 15 games and registered 28 tackles and three passes defensed.
As a freshman in 2017, saw action in 15 games and tallied 15 tackles, three passes defensed and one forced fumble.
Nephew of former Buccaneers linebacker Geno Hayes.
Originally from Lakeland, Fla., where he attended Lake Gibson High School.
Parents are Eugene and Dawn Hayes. x Has one sister, Sydney and one brother, Eugene Jr.
Has one daughter, Leilani.
