Notre Dame thinks Daelin Hayes can contribute, if healthy

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SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Notre Dame defensive line coach Keith Gilmore admitted it’s difficult to find true freshmen who can contribute immediately in his position group, given the size and strength necessary to compete in the college trenches. But he thinks early enrollee Daelin Hayes could prove worthy of playing time this fall — provided he’s healthy.

Hayes is rated by Rivals as a five-star recruit and the No. 31 player in the class of 2016. At 6-foot-3 and adding weight to his 239-pound frame, he has the size necessary to move him down to the defensive line from linebacker. While linebackers coach Mike Elston said he's going to fight to keep him at linebacker, he admitted Hayes is "a Whopper away from being out of it. ... He's gotta slow down on his training table if I'm going to keep him at linebacker."

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But Hayes is coming off a shoulder injury that required surgery last fall that affects his timeline at Notre Dame. While he enrolled early, he won’t be a full participant in spring practice — Gilmore said he won’t be able to hit, but will run around a bit — but looks to be on track to get his pads on for the first time during preseason camp in August. 

“I think everything went well with the injury and the surgery, he’s recovering well,” Gilmore said. “He’s on time to be in pads when they said he would be. He’s a gym rat type guy so he’s been here doing extra work on the weekends and learning the defense. 

“He’s a prototype player and he’s a guy that I think will do everything possible to get himself ready to play. It means a lot to him. He wants to get in here and contribute and be the player that everybody anticipates him being.” 

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Notre Dame’s pass rush has lagged a bit in the last two years, producing just 50 sacks in 26 games in the Brian VanGorder era — and departing seniors Romeo Okwara and Sheldon Day combined for 16 of those sacks. Gilmore is hopeful Hayes, as well as Julian Okwara and Khalid Kareem — also an early enrollee — can prove worthy of early playing time to help jump-start those pass rushing efforts this fall.  

“I think (Hayes) could be an ideal rush player,” Gilmore said. “He’s a rare talent, a special breed of kid. He’s a freshman that probably could do it. He’s got enough athleticism, 250 pounds right now, a special athlete. I think he’s a kid that if there is a freshman that could come in and help us on the defensive line, he’s one of those guys that could really do that.” 

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