KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Western Michigan senior linebacker Treshaun Hayward has earned a place on the Phil Steele Preseason All-America fourth team.
 
Hayward garnered fourth team accolades from the organization a year ago, as well as second team All-America honors from Sporting News in 2019. So far this preseason, Hayward has earned first team All-Mid-American Conference accolades by Athlon Sports and Phil Steele.
 
Hayward, the 2019 MAC Defensive Player of the Year, has played in 34 career games with 12 starts. He has recorded 179 tackles, 12.5 tackles for lost yardage, 5.0 sacks, one pass breakup, one caused fumble, two fumble recoveries and one quarterback pressure.
 
A 6-1, 225-pound native of Ypsilanti, Mich., finished the 2019 season ranked third nationally in total tackles with 142. He is one of two returning players in 2020 who recorded 130 or more tackles and 10.0 or more TFL in 2019, joining Jahad Woods of Washington State (141 tackles & 10.0 TFL).
 
During the 2019 campaign, Hayward played in all 13 games and started the final 11. He compiled 10.5 TFL, 5.0 sacks, one PBU, one caused fumble, one fumble recovery and one QB pressure. Within the MAC, Hayward ranked first in total tackles, second in tackles per game (10.92), tied for 10th in sacks and tied for 10th in sacks per game (0.38). Nationally, he ranked third in total tackles, sixth in total tackles per game and tied for 16th in solo tackles per game (5.54). Hayward posted 10 or more tackles in nine weeks and became the first MAC player with nine or more double-digit tackle efforts in the same year since Malik Fountain of Central Michigan had 11 in 2018.
 
Western Michigan is set to kick off the 2020 season at home on Friday, September 4, against Stony Brook. Game time has yet to be determined.

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