3* RB Ashton Hayes flips from Nebraska to Cal
Speedy Reno, NV RB becomes the only RB in the 2022 Class
Per the Lincoln Journal Star:
Ashton Hayes, the Class of 2022 prospect from Reno, Nevada, is no longer planning to sign with Nebraska. He instead will sign with Cal, his head coach, Jim Snelling, confirmed to the Journal Star on Monday morning.
Hayes, of course, was primarily recruited by running backs coach Ryan Held, who was one of four offensive assistant coaches fired by Husker head coach Scott Frost last month.
Hayes was slated to join the Huskers, however, a change in the offensive coaching staff and stability at Cal was a factor:
Hayes' high school coach, Jim Snelling, said Hayes decided late last week he would take his college career in a different direction.
“The new staff coming in doesn’t really know Ashton,” Snelling said. “It just appeared to be a little bit better fit (at Cal). Ashton and his family were a little bit concerned about it. Talking with Coach Frost as well, he actually understood the situation and said, ‘You know what? You’ve still got a scholarship here,’ but encouraged Ashton to take a look and make sure he was 100% sure. The staff that recruited him at Cal was still there.”
He’s a 3* on 247 and Rivals, with offers from aforementioned Nebraska, as well as Arizona, Dartmouth, Oregon State, Stanford, Utah, and Yale. So he can play ball and play school.
Worth noting is that he was offered early by Stanfurd after his breakout 2019 season.
Per reports he boasts a 4.48 40 time on a 5’11” 185 lbs frame. He blew up in the Nevada prep-football world with 2429 yards on 272 carries as well as 346 yards on 28 receptions. His most recent full season was more subdued but still productive with 1735 yards on 223 carries and 56 yards on 3 catches.
You can find his tape here. From first viewing: he’s decisive through the hole, has good top-end speed and turns north quickly. He has speed that has been lacking in the Cal backfield.
Welcome to Cal!
His sophomore season, Hayes played in closer games - which means he had more games where he had 20-30 touches and rack up more than 200 yards. His senior season, there were more games that were more blow-outs where he had fewer carries.
He has really good acceleration and uncanny vision to see holes. I think the direct comparison is Patrick Laird - a zone-block-following back who you can put single back or put into motion for a mismatch against an ILB.
When I look at his speed, I - for once - do not doubt the claimed sub 4.5 time. He looks really fast. That's what real 4.5 speed looks - the speed where tacklers cannot fall fast enough to grab a runner's legs.
Eager for news on how this cycle is shaping up. Who's in and who's not. We need bigger stronger faster, and then do a Utah and coach them up to beat the overinflated and poorly coached other teams.