Recruiting on the South Plains | OL Cody Hayes

RECRUITING ON THE SOUTH PLAINS Measurables CODY HAYES Position: OL Ht: 6'5" | Wt: 260 lbs | Forty: N/A High School: Eastern Hills (Ft. Worth, TX) VTM Profile Video: Clip 1 Rivals 5.4 | Scout N/A ESPN N/R | 24/7 Sports N/R Cumulative Ranking: INC Offers Texas Tech, New Mexico, UTEP

I'll be honest, this is really some recruiting that's a bit different than what we're accustomed to seeing with Tuberville at the helm. He's provided two top 25-ish classes in his first two full years of recruiting and now there is a good opportunity that this one may not make the top 25. I guess this is only important if you care as to whether or not recruiting rankings are important or mean anything. I've tried to maintain that they mean something, but they don't mean everything and I think that's a pretty fair assessment. The amount that it means to you is really the sticking point.

So thus far, Texas Tech is really recruiting some under the radar type of players and that trend continues with OT Cody Hayes. Hayes is generally regarded as maybe a two-star player, but didn't even have a Scout profile when I figured out he was a Texas Tech commit. Hayes isn't the only guy that is like this, he joins Justis Nelson, Caleb Woodward, and Dakorey Johnson as guys that we all see the name and let out a collective, "Huh."

I was saving this ESPN article for later this week and I'll most likely post it again, but it was a profile on Kansas St. and how Bill Snyder recruits players, and with Texas Tech's recent run of under the radar type of commits, this made sense when asked about what Snyder's recruiting philosophy was:

1. Identify and cultivate talent: The Wildcats have done a good job of realizing how they fit within the recruiting landscape. They don't get sidetracked trying to chase longshot prospects. Instead, Snyder and his staff indentify under-the-radar prospects who fit their system, want to be a part of K-State football and have the skills they can develop and maximize.

And this item #2:

2. Use junior colleges: Using junior colleges to supplement a roster can be valuable but can also present a risky proposition when relied on too heavily. However, Snyder has been able to navigate the pitfalls of jucos better than anyone and benefits from having a strong network of jucos right in Kansas. K-State does a great job of building relationships at that level.

If you were to ask me, I'd tell you that this seems like where Tuberville is going in this class, and although Hayes is obviously not a JUCO guy, it's clear that the coaching staff is clearly implementing item #1 above. And make no mistake, I would almost guarantee that Tuberville & Co. finish out the class with quite a few JUCO players, maybe 8 by the time it is all said and done.

Stats

Nothing that I could find.

The Player Speaks

Nothing that's free and now that Wreck'Em247 is associated with the LAJ, I'd guess that the days of many free articles are over. I would add that Wreck'Em247 did confirm Hayes' commitment, so there is that.

Scouting Report

Please note that Hayes' profile on Hudl says that he is now 6-6/280. I cannot believe that those numbers accurately reflect how big he looks on film. If he really is that size, then Hayes is the most athletic lineman that I can recall seeing on film in quite some time. Still, at 260, Hayes is incredible agile and very athletic. He looks a bit uncomfortable in pass protection, but he gets to his spot incredibly fast when he's asked to pull. You cannot replicate that type of speed for an offensive lineman.

I did find this article about how he went to state in the shot put and threw over 50 feet. Guys that can do things like this are usually pretty balanced and at his size, it is good for him to have this type of strength. I recall that TE Jace Amaro also threw the shot put I think.

I also found this very short District 6-4A preview where he was listed as a key player for Eastern Hills and one of the five players to watch in the district.

Cody, welcome to Texas Tech and Git Your Guns Up!

The 2013 Class

I've got some serious updating to do, but it probably won't get done until after the season.