2020: Returning All-America linebacker, receiving Sporting News (2nd team) and Phil Steele (4th team) honors in 2019 ... preseason fourth team All-America honoree by Phil Steele ... first team All-Mid American Conference selection by Athlon Sports and Phil Steele ... preseason watch list selection for the Nagurski Trophy and Butkus Award ... MAC Defensive Player of the Year and first team All-MAC honoree in 2019 ... recipient of the program’s John Offerdahl Outstanding Defensive Player award in 2019 ... two-time MAC West Division Defensive Player of the Week (vs. Georgia State & vs. Bowling Green in 2019) ... in 34 career games (12 starts), has recorded 179 tackles, 12.5 tackles for lost yardage, 5.0 sacks, one pass breakup, one caused fumble, two fumble recoveries and one QB pressure ... one of the best stories of 2019, turning in an All-America campaign after entering the year with 37 tackles in 21 career games played ... finished the 2019 season ranked third nationally in total tackles with 142 ... one of two returning players in 2020 who recorded 130+ tackles and 10.0+ TFL in 2019, joining Jahad Woods of Washington State (141 tackles & 10.0 TFL) ... owns 16 games with 4+ tackles including a career-high 18 stops at Eastern Michigan in 2019 ... totaled nine games with 10+ tackles ... booked multiple TFL in five games including a career-high 3.0 stops for lost yardage against Bowling Green in 2019 ... enters the 2020 season having recorded 5+ tackles in 13 consecutive games ... on the field for 1,249 career snaps.
2019: All-America selection by Sporting News (2nd team) and Phil Steele (4th team) ... MAC Defensive Player of the Year and first team All-MAC pick ... became the eighth Bronco to receive the league’s defensive player of the year honor, joining John Offerdahl (1985), Mark Garalczyk (1986), Sean Mulhearn (1990), Jason Babin (2002 & 2003), Ameer Ismail (2006) and Drew Nowak (2011) ... recipient of the program’s John Offerdahl Outstanding Defensive Player award as Western Michigan’s top defensive player ... MAC West Division Defensive Player of the Week honoree following performances against Georgia State and Bowling Green ... played in all 13 games and started the final 11 ... compiled 142 tackles, 10.5 TFL, 5.0 sacks, one PBU, one caused fumble, one fumble recovery and one QB pressure ... in the MAC, 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, ranked third in total tackles, sixth in total tackles per game and tied for 16th in solo tackles per game (5.54) ... averaged 11.13 tackles per MAC game ... one of five players nationally to post 130+ tackles and 10.0+ TFL, joining Evan Weaver of California, Dele Harding of Illinois, Jahad Woods of Washington State and Alijah Halliburton of Wyoming ... posted 10+ tackles in nine weeks including a season-high 18 stops at Eastern Michigan ... became the first MAC player with nine or more 10+ tackle efforts in the same year since Malik Fountain of Central Michigan had 11 in 2018 ... booked double-digit tackles in five consecutive weeks ... turned in 13 tackles, 3.0 TFL and 2.0 sacks against Bowling Green en route to MAC West Division Defensive Player of the Week accolades ... also reached double figures in tackles versus Michigan State (10), Georgia State (15), Syracuse (11), Central Michigan (11), Toledo (13), Ohio (12) and Western Kentucky (10) ... tied for sixth in WMU bowl history with 10 stops against Western Kentucky in the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl ... logged nine stops against Ball State ... had 5+ tackles in all 13 games and 8+ stops in 11 weeks ... recorded multiple TFL against Georgia State (1.5), Syracuse (1.5), Toledo (2.0), Eastern Michigan (1.5) and Bowling Green ... broke up first career pass and recovered second career fumble against Central Michigan ... fumble recovery was at the WMU 40-yard line with 8:49 to go in the third quarter and set up the Broncos’ 13-play, 60-yard touchdown drive that put Western Michigan ahead 24-0 with just 2:34 to play in the third ... credited with first career QB pressure at No. 19 Michigan State ... helped Western Michigan rank among the MAC leaders in tackles for loss per game (6.5; 3rd) and sacks per game (2.8; 2nd) ... on the field for 870 snaps.
2018: Played in 10 games with one start, at Michigan ... did not play against Delaware State, Ohio or Ball State ... finished the season with 23 tackles and 1.0 TFL ... booked 2+ tackles in eight games and 3+ in three contests with a year-high five against Michigan ... totaled four tackles against Eastern Michigan ... credited with 0.5 TFL apiece against Bowling Green and Northern Illinois ... on the field for 262 snaps.
2017: Played in 11 games, primarily on special teams and as a reserve linebacker ... missed the season opener at No. 4 Southern California ... recorded 14 tackles, 1.0 TFL and one fumble recovery ... carded 2+ tackles in three games with a year-high five against Kent State ... booked three tackles versus Ball State and added two against Central Michigan ... recorded first career TFL against Ball State, dropping Nathan Snyder for a nine-yard loss ... recovered first career fumble against Northern Illinois, jumping on a loose ball on a punt return at the Huskie 16-yard line on the final play of the first quarter, setting up a WMU touchdown to tie the game at 14-14 ... on the field for 177 total snaps.
PRIOR TO WESTERN MICHIGAN: A three-star prospect, according to 247Sports.com, Rivals.com and Scout.com ... ranked as the 41th best prospect in Michigan ... had 70 tackles, 18.0 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, three forced fumbles and one interception in 2016 ... named the Ann Arbor News Defensive Player of the Year ... played on offense and defense, rushing for 500 yards and seven touchdowns as a running back ... selected to the Associated Press All-State team.
PERSONAL: Born May 24, 1999 ... son of Kivia Hayward ... majoring in criminal justice.
