BYU defensive again Kaleb Hayes breaks up a move supposed for Utah State’s Justin McGriff in Logan on Friday, Oct. 1, 2021. Hayes started his profession at Oregon State and is aware of the challenges (and pleasure) of taking part in at Oregon’s Autzen Stadium, the place the Cougars will face the Geese on Saturday. Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret Information
Oregon State cornerback Kaleb Hayes sits on the sidelines over the past minutes towards Stanford on Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018, in Stanford, Calif. Hayes is the one member on the Cougars’ roster who has performed at Oregon’s famed Autzen Stadium as a member of the visiting staff. Tony Avelar, Related Press
Loads of BYU soccer gamers are aware of Oregon’s Autzen Stadium, however just one has truly gone into the house of the Geese and tried to play amid the craziness and hostility directed towards the visiting staff.
That may be senior cornerback Kaleb Hayes, who was a member of the Oregon State soccer staff when the Beavers misplaced 24-10 at Autzen in 2019. Hayes additionally performed towards the Geese as a Beaver in 2018, falling 55-15 in Corvallis.
He sat out in 2020 as a consequence of COVID-19 and transferred to BYU in 2021. The native of San Bernardino, California, is in his second, and final, season at BYU.
“It's going to be an thrilling ambiance. It's a kind of (possibilities) of a lifetime. … Autzen Stadium brings loads of power, which I really feel goes to assist us. That is what we dreamed of after we had been little youngsters, is to be in a spot the place thousands and thousands are taking a look at us.” — BYU cornerback Kaleb Hayes
“It's going to be an thrilling ambiance,” Hayes stated of Saturday’s 1:30 p.m. MDT kickoff. “It's a kind of (possibilities) of a lifetime. … Autzen Stadium brings loads of power, which I really feel goes to assist us. That is what we dreamed of after we had been little youngsters, is to be in a spot the place thousands and thousands are taking a look at us.”
Hayes’ recommendation to his teammates: Benefit from the journey.
“Keep within the second, and simply play our soccer,” he stated. “It's going to be enjoyable.”
Hayes appeared in 12 video games for the Beavers in 2018, and made 4 tackles within the Civil Struggle (neither faculty calls it that now) at Reser Stadium. He solely performed in 5 video games in 2019, however the rivalry recreation was one in every of them.
He stated this Saturday’s recreation will probably be memorable for him.
“Um, the Beaver in me, after all it's a little bit emotional, you realize?” he stated. “I used to be at all times a fan of Oregon, to be trustworthy with you. However after I was at Corvallis, it was kinda like, ‘No! That’s taboo.’ You are feeling me?
“However I'm at BYU. We're going to present loads of camaraderie, respect, to that staff, from my aspect, from the place I'm at.
“However yeah, it will be attention-grabbing, although,” he continued. “I'm going to have enjoyable. It's thrilling to be again at Oregon and play at Autzen Stadium.”
Hayes, who made three solo tackles in No. 12 BYU’s 26-20 double-overtime win over No. 9 Baylor final week, stated he respects Oregon quite a bit, however the one factor he's jealous of is its jerseys.
“I at all times used to say at Oregon State we used to get hand-me-downs from Oregon,” he stated, laughing, having spent 4 years at OSU.
Oregon State cornerback Kaleb Hayes sits on the sidelines over the past minutes towards Stanford on Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018, in Stanford, Calif. Hayes is the one member on the Cougars’ roster who has performed at Oregon’s famed Autzen Stadium as a member of the visiting staff.
Tony Avelar, Related Press
Hayes stated Oregon’s high-powered offense will probably be tough to include.
“So far as I’ve seen, they prefer to unfold it out quite a bit. You may have nice athletes at that faculty, so you might be most likely going to see loads of perimeter issues,” he stated. “If we simply play our keys, we needs to be tremendous. I believe we match up fairly effectively with them. So yeah, it will be nice.”
Hayes performed operating again, receiver and quarterback at California’s San Gorgonio Excessive, accounting for 3,139 passing yards and 30 touchdowns in his junior and senior seasons mixed. He was recruited to BYU by defensive coordinator Ilaisa Tuiaki and assistant head coach Ed Lamb, however selected the Beavers as an alternative.
When he entered the switch portal in January 2021, BYU cornerbacks coach Jernaro Gilford reached out and informed him the teaching employees actually needed him, however wasn’t going to undergo all the recruiting course of once more.
“And he was like, ‘Look coach, I'm coming to BYU. I'm not taking any visits. I'm not speaking to anybody else,’” Gilford stated. “In order that was that.”
It was a straightforward transition to BYU as a result of Hayes matured at OSU, realized what was necessary to him, and knew what the expectations had been.
“He is an effective child, handles enterprise on and off the sphere,” Gilford stated. “Pure chief, competitor, a man who adapts effectively to any sort of state of affairs. It simply makes him an ideal match.”
BYU linebacker Payton Wilgar stated there’s by no means a uninteresting second when Hayes is round.
“He's superior,” Wilgar stated. “Kaleb, man, he has introduced loads of good power to our staff. He’s an excellent chief, so he’s enjoyable to have round.”
By means of two video games, Hayes has emerged as one in every of BYU’s most feared defenders. South Florida didn’t throw to his aspect as soon as within the 50-21 BYU win on Sept. 3. Is the NFL in his future?
“That's in God’s palms. In that case, it could be a serious, main blessing,” Gilford stated. “He simply has to proceed to work and might’t let the noise get to him, as a result of then you definately begin considering of optimistic and unfavorable issues and issues which are going proper and incorrect as an alternative of simply taking part in your recreation and letting that state of affairs deal with itself.”
Cougars on the air
No. 12 BYU (2-0) at No. 25 Oregon (1-1)
Saturday, 1:30 p.m. MDT
Autzen Stadium
Eugene, Oregon
TV: Fox
Radio: KSL Newsradio 102.7 FM/1160 AM