Daelin Hayes to USC: Trojans Land 4-Star LB Prospect
USC made a big recruiting splash on Saturday, as 4-star linebacker prospect Daelin Hayes of West Bloomfield, Michigan, verbally committed to play for the Trojans.
Hayes announced his commitment to play football in Southern California via Twitter:
The 6'3", 225-pound linebacker was exuberant in his praise of the vaunted football institution, committing just two days after his lone unofficial visit to the campus.
"Everything from start to finish was hands down amazing," Hayes told Steve Wiltfong of 247Sports.com. "USC is the perfect fit for me as a student, as a player and as a person."
Hayes is rated the No. 6 outside linebacker in the class of 2016 by 247Sports and No. 1 in the state of Michigan. The sturdy defender can also play running back.
He is the first USC commitment in the class of 2016. According to 247Sports.com, Hayes spurned interest from the likes of Notre Dame, Illinois and Michigan, among other top schools.
Scout.com's Mike Wilson noted Hayes' decision to play for the Trojans was a significant blow to Michigan State's recruiting plans:
Considering Hayes still has another two years of prep football to play at Orchard Lake St. Mary's before heading out to the West Coast, it will be interesting to see if in-state schools like Michigan and Michigan State try to change the young man's mind.
The journey to USC would take Hayes far from his family, but the opportunity to play under a head coach like Steve Sarkisian is a tantalizing one for any young gridiron talent.
Star rankings courtesy of 247Sports.
