BYU’s Kaleb Hayes participates in BYU’s Professional Day in Provo on Friday, March 24, 2023. Laura Seitz, Deseret Information
Offensive lineman Blake Freeland, quarterback Jaren Corridor and receiver Puka Nacua had been the headliners at what was most likely BYU’s final Professional Day in Provo, however a comparatively unknown cornerback stole the present on Friday.
That will be 6-foot, 190-pound Kaleb Hayes, who had two stable, however not spectacular, seasons at BYU after transferring from Oregon State after his sophomore 12 months.
“I used to be simply wholesome right this moment. I felt higher. My ankle felt recovered. Nonetheless didn’t have a ton of time to prep for it. I simply needed to point out I'm an athletic man and simply affirm what was on tape. I attempted to not press an excessive amount of about it, however simply kinda present I can do what I have to.” — BYU quarterback Jaren Corridor.
Most notably, Hayes posted the quickest 40-yard sprint time of the day, a scorching 4.31 seconds on his first try. He additionally posted the very best vertical leap (40 inches), the very best lengthy leap (10 ft, 8 inches), the very best 20-yard shuttle (4.17 seconds) and the very best 3-cone drill (6.88 seconds).
“That 4.31 is loopy,” Hayes mentioned. “I hoped to get wherever within the 4.3s and present my velocity. It isn't essential for me to run as quick, undoubtedly, on the soccer subject, as a result of I'm at all times in nice place to make performs.
“It was a fantastic alternative to point out my true velocity on the market,” mentioned Hayes, who by no means lacks for confidence. “I believe I stunned some folks.”
Hayes mentioned he was approached by just a few NFL scouts after the efficiency, and acknowledged that he wasn’t on the radar of a number of, at the very least not like Freeland, Corridor and Nacua, the three Cougars more than likely to be drafted subsequent month.
“They got here up; We had a fantastic dialog,” he mentioned. “It means quite a bit for us. We prepare all of our lives for this second. That is the harmless a part of soccer.”
Regardless of the description — all 32 NFL groups had been represented, in line with BYU — Hayes virtually actually earned himself some cash Friday.
His teammates and coaches weren’t stunned.
“I believe we knew that he had a variety of explosiveness and athleticism,” BYU coach Kalani Sitake mentioned. “He labored actually onerous. He seems to be nice, too. He's nonetheless uncooked, which means that there's extra he can accomplish. It was good to have the scouts see that.”
Hayes, who recorded 41 tackles and 7 cross breakups in 2022 whereas enjoying in 12 video games and beginning in 10, mentioned he was motivated by not getting invited to the NFL Mix in February and among the different top-tier all-star video games.
“I really feel like I did what I needed to do,” he mentioned. “All through the months I've been coaching, I had an expectation, a chip on my shoulder for not with the ability to take part in lots of occasions. It was a fantastic alternative for me to show some heads, have some eyes taking a look at me and present them I'm an athlete and I'm going to compete, and I'm going to win.”
He additionally confirmed some respectable power, posting 17 reps on the bench press (225 kilos).
Hayes was considered one of 17 former Cougars who participated, one of many largest teams in latest reminiscence. Subsequent 12 months, the Huge 12 will placed on one Professional Day within the Dallas space for all of its groups, so this one was most likely the ultimate one in Provo.
“Professional day went rather well. Our gamers obtained to carry out in entrance of the NFL (scouts), in entrance of the groups. I'm actually excited in regards to the prospects of this group that's going into the draft,” Sitake mentioned. “Like final 12 months, we obtained one other group that has come by way of and I'm simply actually completely happy they can fulfill their lifelong goals.”
After turning loads of heads in Indianapolis on the NFL Mix, the 6-8 Freeland didn’t do as a lot in Provo as a result of, frankly, he didn’t have to.
With some mock drafts on the market questioning his power, he put up 27 bench-press reps. It went into the books as 25, as a result of he apparently didn’t full a pair. Freeland confirmed the athleticism he's recognized for with a 4.42-second time within the 20-yard shuttle, loopy good for a person his dimension.
Corridor didn’t run the 40 in Indianapolis, and there was some query whether or not he would in Provo. He did, twice, posting a 4.62-second time within the first after which saying he's “by no means completely happy” with any time he posts.
Why did he run Friday?
“I used to be simply wholesome right this moment. I felt higher. My ankle felt recovered. Nonetheless didn’t have a ton of time to prep for it. I simply needed to point out I'm an athletic man and simply affirm what was on tape,” Corridor mentioned. “I attempted to not press an excessive amount of about it, however simply kinda present I can do what I have to.”
Corridor threw about 50 instances for the scouts as properly, tossing the ball to working again Chris Brooks, fullback Houston Heimuli, receivers Nacua and Chris Jackson and Gunner Romney and even offensive lineman Joe Tukuafu, who got here to BYU as a good finish.
Corridor overthrew some receivers, and there have been fairly just a few drops, maybe as a result of velocity of his throws, however he felt like he confirmed properly.
“It was a variety of enjoyable,” he mentioned. “I simply needed to come back out right here and have an excellent time. It wasn’t excellent. Simply glad to be again right here within the IPF, again in Provo with all the fellows.”
He concluded his day with an extended bomb to Nacua, who caught the ball in stride.
“The final ball Jaren threw to me, we now have been engaged on that,” Nacua mentioned. “We ended on an excellent observe, in order that made me really feel quite a bit higher.”
Sitake mentioned Corridor shined probably the most when it mattered probably the most.
“Even on the finish right here, (scouts) had been saying he threw rather well. I don’t know what number of throws he had whole, however he had some actually good (ones),” Sitake mentioned. “Simply watching the ball come off his hand, a variety of scouts favored what they noticed.”
Nacua mentioned he didn’t run on the NFL Mix as a result of he was nonetheless recovering from a concussion on the Senior Bowl.
“I simply felt like I might higher put together and run right here at BYU,” he mentioned. “To be dwelling in my surroundings and be out right here with all my guys was tremendous enjoyable.”
Nacua posted instances of 4.59 and 4.55 within the 40, then mentioned he anticipated a telephone name from his brother, Samson, who participated final 12 months and ran higher instances.
“Not as quick (as I needed),” he mentioned. “I'm ready for that decision from Samson, saying, ‘man, you're gradual.’ So I do know that one is coming. Kai (Nacua) may need ran quicker than me, too, however I'm good (with it). I'm huge and I play the sport just a bit bit in a different way. Hopefully scouts will be capable to see that. However I felt actually good with my time.”