Inside The Panthers

Former Pitt DE Issues Statement

Former Pitt Panthers defensive end Dayon Hayes apologized for his controversial comments.

Stephen Thompson

Sep 1, 2022; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers defensive lineman Dayon Hayes (50)
Sep 1, 2022; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers defensive lineman Dayon Hayes (50) / Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

PITTSBURGH -- Dayon Hayes made some controversial statements through the media about the state of the Pitt Panthers program after announcing that he would transfer and finish his college career elsewhere.

After his comments to Christopher Carter of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette were published, Hayes issued a statement apologizing to head coach Pat Narduzzi and his Pitt teammates.

"Apologies to Coach Narduzzi, my teammates and Pitt," Hayes wrote on Twitter. "I fully understand what's going on around the media and I want to say that despite what is being said I do have a lot of faith in this team and believe in everything they have to offer."

"They made me the player I am today, I started with Pittsburgh and I will always be a homer. But this is a business and I think my time here has come to an end. My future will remain in gods hands. So please respect my choices and as always #H2P"

Hayes was quoted saying he believed Pitt was in a "developmental stage" and wouldn't win much this season. Carter also reported that Alliance 412, the NIL collective supporting Pitt athletics athletes, had offered him one of the highest paying NIL deals on the team and that Hayes had spoken to teammates about the state of the offense.

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Stephen Thompson
STEPHEN THOMPSON

Stephen Thompson graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications and political science from Pitt in April 2022 after spending four years as a sports writer and editor at The Pitt News, the University of Pittsburgh's independent, student-run newspaper.  He primarily worked the Pitt men's basketball beat, and filled in on coverage of football, volleyball, softball, gymnastics and lacrosse, in addition to other sports as needed. His work at The Pitt News has won awards from the Pennsylvania News Media Association and Associated College Press.  During the spring and summer of 2021, Stephen interned for Pittsburgh Sports Now, covering baseball in western Pennsylvania. Hailing from Washington D.C., family ties have cultivated a love of Boston's professional teams and Pitt athletics, and a fascination with sports in general.  You can reach Stephen by email at stephenethompson00@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter. Read his latest work:

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