Former Pitt DE Receiving Heavy Interest in Portal

Pitt Panthers transfer defensive end is receiving great interest in the portal.

Oct 23, 2021; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers defensive lineman Dayon Hayes (50) / Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

PITTSBURGH -- Pitt Panthers transfer defensive lineman Dayon Hayes entered the transfer portal and soon after, has received great interest from a number of programs across the country.

He revealed to Pittsburgh Sports Now the schools that contacted him since joining the portal. These include ACC schools like Duke, Louisville, North Carolina, Syracuse and Virginia, Big Ten schools in Indiana, Michigan State, Minnesota, rival Penn State, USC and Washington, Big 12 schools in Baylor, Colorado and UCF, SEC schools in Missouri and Texas A&M, as well as Colorado State.

He also mentioned to Pittsburgh Sports Now that he has not scheduled an official visit yet.

Hayes featured as of the most disruptive players along the defensive line for the Panthers last season, but his numbers and that of the whole unit lagged behind what this program has produced in recent seasons. He led the team in tackles for loss with 10.5 and finished third in sacks with four, along with making 45 tackles and four passes defended.

Many teams will continue to contact Hayes, who stands at 6-foot-5 and 260 pounds and will bolster and defensive line in his final year of eligibility.

The Pittsburgh native, who played for Westinghouse High School in the Homewood area of the city, received great plaudits from the On3 Industry Rankings, as they put him as the fourth best player in the transfer portal right now.

He joins linebacker Solomon DeShields from as two Pitt defensive starters who entered the transfer portal. Quarterback Christian Veilleux and walk-on offensive lineman George French II decided to leave the program, as well, making it four transfers following the end of spring practices.

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