Pitt DL Dayon Hayes Finding Footing in New Role

Dayon Hayes is all of a sudden one of the old men in the Pitt Panthers' defensive line room.

PITTSBURGH -- Dayon Hayes likes to keep things light. When he's in the Pitt Panthers' locker room he's playing pranks on his teammates and his meetings with media are easy-going and he wears a big smile during the moments he isn't cracking himself up with a joke. There's a lot riding on Hayes this season, but the pressure doesn't come through in his demeanor. 

Pitt lost four defensive linemen to graduation and another to the transfer portal this offseason, leaving Hayes as the defacto elder statesman. After four years, his turn to manifest the expectations that came saddled with his consensus four-star rating coming out of high school has arrived. 

“I think we’re young and I think I can take on that leadership role," Hayes said. "I just think it’s my time to take that step forward and be the top dog.”

Hayes got a taste of what this year might look like late last season, when injuries and opt-outs created a favorable situation for him to earn significant playing time and make the most of his opportunity. In the regular season finale against Miami and his first start against UCLA at the Sun Bowl, Hayes combined for 4.5 tackles for loss and entered spring practices with momentum. 

"It was a nice feeling," Hayes said. "It definitely boosted me up. I felt like I had to be the man but I like that. It kept me on my toes and I like to be like that.”

But Hayes' entry to the spring season hasn't always been smooth. Head coach Pat Narduzzi and defensive Charlie Partridge were not happy with their star edge rusher during the team's final practice of the spring season. As Hayes trotted off the field for a line change during team drills, Narduzzi and Partridge barked demands for better effort and focus at the fourth-year defensive end. They expect a lot from Hayes and won't let him forget it. 

"He was reminded today," Partridge said. "That I have to hold him to a high standard all the time and cannot allow his standard to drop because if one of those guys … if I let their standard drop, then the standard isn’t what you preach, it’s what you tolerate.” 

There are big shoes to fill and limited time to grow into them. Hayes is following some of the best and most decorated to play his position in this school's history. That's created some pressure that he tries to counter with an upbeat personality. 

In between the stressors of being a Pittsburgh native who's shouldering the responsibility of leading a crucial position group as his program seeks to continue its most successful run since the 1980s, Hayes keeps that smile plastered to his face. He is, after all, playing a game. 

"I don’t like to be serious because what’s the point of life if you’re always serious?" Hayes said. "I like to smile. I like to laugh. It’s fun.”

But don't mistake having fun for taking things lightly. Hayes feels the pressure but enjoys it and smiles in the face of it. There's no avoiding what's on his plate now, so he might as well embrace it. 

“I like pressure," Hayes said. "It’ll make me or it’ll break me so I got to take it.”

While Hayes approaches his new responsibility with a hint of zen and nihilistic inevitability, his coaches see it as more active. Hayes is ready and fitting for this role - not just a starter but a leader and face of his position, if not the defense as a whole. All that's left is for him to grab the opportunity and see it to its fullest potential. 

“Like all players who get thrust into that role, there’s going to be some learning moments, but I think he has the personality to do it," Partridge said. "As long as he’s able to maintain and control his feelings - feelings get us all in trouble - if he can control and maintain his feelings, then everything’s going to be fine.”

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