JosaihHayes

2024 – *Senior
• Has played in 45 career games with four starts in his Wildcat career
• After missing the first nine games of the season due to a torn Achilles tendon suffered in spring practice, he returned to action vs. Murray State and played in the final three games
• Totaled nine tackles and a TFL in three games
• Recorded a career-high tying four tackles in his return vs. Murray State
• Also played at No. 3 Texas and got a tackle and a PBU
• Got four tackles and a TFL vs. Louisville

2023 – Senior
• Saw action in all 13 games in 2023 with two starts vs. Akron and Missouri
• Totaled 24 tackles, including 4.5 TFL and 1.5 sacks, along with a PBU and QBH
• Got his first career QBH vs. Missouri
• Totaled a sack and three tackles, including a TFL, in the win over No. 9 Louisville

2022 – Junior
• Saw action in 11 games with one start
• Totaled eight tackles and a PBU
• Recorded his first pass breakup in the win over Miami Ohio in the season opener
• Got a season-best two tackles vs. Northern Illinois

2021 – Sophomore
• Played in all 13 games with his first career start against Vanderbilt
• Totaled 14 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack and a fumble recovery
• Made his first collegiate sack at Mississippi State … Also finished with a career-high four tackles
• Charted a career-high two tackles in the win over ULM and also against No. 10/9 Florida

2020 – Freshman
• Played in five games vs. Mississippi State, Tennessee, Missouri, Georgia and South Carolina
• Totaled two career tackles (vs. UT and UGA)
• Notched his first career tackle vs. the Vols

High School
• Four-star prospect who was regarded as the No. 2 prospect in Mississippi and a top-15 defensive tackle nationally according to Rivals.com
• Named to the 6A Coaches All-State First-Team Defense in 2019 after a second-team selection as a junior
• Totaled 26 tackles during his senior year
• Helped lead Horn Lake to its first MHSAA Class 6A state football title in 2018
• Played in the 2019 Mississippi/Alabama All-Star Game
• Coached by Brad Boyette
• Chose Kentucky over Auburn and Ole Miss

Personal
• Born in Cleveland, Mississippi
• Son of Thomosa Roger and Wilson Hayes
• Siblings are Nema Hendrix, Savanna Hawkins, and Isaiah Hayes
• Has one son, Cairo Ali Smith
• Major is community and leadership development

Josaih Says
• His nickname is “Pooh”
• He chose Kentucky because it was the best fit for him
• His sports hero is Ray Lewis because of his energy
• One word to describe him on the field is “aggressive”
• His dream job is to be a physical therapist