Inside The Panthers

Pitt Loses Star DE to Transfer Portal

The Pitt Panthers lost their best defensive lineman to the transfer portal.

Stephen Thompson

Pittsburgh Panthers defensive lineman Dayon Hayes reacts after forcing a fumble during the first
Pittsburgh Panthers defensive lineman Dayon Hayes reacts after forcing a fumble during the first / Michael Longo/For USA Today Network /

PITTSBURGH -- The end of spring practices brought a big blow to the Pitt Panthers, who have lost their best returning defensive lineman to the transfer portal.

Dayon Hayes, a former four-star recruit who constantly had high expectations saddled upon him but never quite met those expectations, has entered the transfer portal, according to On3's Hayes Fawcett. He will leave Pitt with a breakout season expected from him in 2024.

Hayes leaves behind a thin defensive end room. He was projected to start this season alongside Kansas State transfer Nate Matlack, but now, with fellow veteran Nate Temple out for the season with a lower body injury, it falls upon an inexperienced group comprised of Jimmy Scott, Sincere Edwards and others to fill in the gaps.

Hayes was one 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 become accustomed to seeing from it's front seven. Hayes led the team in tackles for loss with 10.5 and was third in sacks with 4. He made 45 total tackles and defended four passes.

This is a massive blow to the Panther defense and they will now have to dip back into the portal to find reinforcements in all likelihood.

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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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