Josh Hayes

PREVIOUS SCHOOL
Comes to UVA after appearing in 52 career games at North Dakota State and helping the Bison win three FCS national championships (2017, 2018, 2019) … graduated from NDSU in 2021 with a degree in university studies with minors in psychology and human development, and family science … made 22-straight starts at cornerback, including six in the spring of 2021 … named second-team All-Missouri Valley Conference in 2019 after making 59 tackles … broke up 10 passes and intercepted two more as NDSU led all of FCS in fewest passing yards per game (138.6) in 2019 … made 132 career tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and defended 21 passes, which includes two career interceptions during NDSU career … made seven tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and broke up a pass in the FCS national championship game victory over JMU in 2019 … made three tackles and forced a fumble during the Bison’s 2017 FCS national title-winning game over JMU.

HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL
Played safety, linebacker, wide receiver and returned kicks at Lake Gibson High School  for head coaches Keith DeMyer and Doug DeMyer … a 2017 graduate of Lake Gibson … team captain his senior year … logged 67 tackles with five pass breakups and four interceptions in 2016 … also recovered one fumble and blocked two kicks … part of a Class 6A state runner-up team that went 9-0 in the regular season and finished 13-1 … seven career interceptions with 10 pass breakups, two forced fumbles and three recoveries … also competed in track and field … son of Dawn and Eugene Hayes … has one sister, Sydney, and one brother, Eugene Jr. … daughter, Leilani, was born in September 2019.