Colorado lands former Pitt DE Hayes from portal

Tom VanHaaren, ESPN Staff WriterApr 21, 2024, 01:36 PM ET
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- ESPN staff writer
- Joined ESPN in 2011
- Graduated from Central Michigan

Former Pittsburgh defensive end Dayon Hayes announced Sunday that he is transferring to Colorado.

Hayes led Pitt in tackles for loss last season with 10.5 and also had 45 total tackles, four sacks and six quarterback hurries. He is a 6-foot-3, 265-pound senior who played the past four seasons for Pitt after signing with the team out of high school.

He is bringing some needed defensive help to Colorado, especially in getting to the quarterback and being disruptive up front. The Buffaloes were ranked No. 63 in sacks last season with 27 and No. 78 in defensive pressures with 139.

The staff has worked this offseason to add more help up front on the defensive side with Hayes and reuniting him with former Pitt teammate Samuel Okunlola, who is also transferring in to Colorado. In addition to those two, Colorado has former Alabama lineman Anquin Barnes, former LSU lineman Quency Wiggins, Arizona State‘s B.J. Green, Arkansas lineman Taurean Carter, Kentucky edge Keaten Wade, New Mexico State edge Nikhil Webb Walker and Houston lineman Chidozie Nwankwo entering the program.

Ohio defensive linemen Rayyan Buell also said on Sunday that he’s transferring to Colorado.

It hasn’t been just defensive transfers, however, as Colorado also got a commitment from former Texas offensive lineman Payton Kirkland on Sunday. Kirkland was a three-star recruit in the 2023 class and is transferring in as a freshman with four years of eligibility remaining.

The Buffaloes have brought in transfers in droves during coach Deion Sanders’ tenure at Colorado. The program finished the 2023 season with a 4-8 record.