ON WEDNESDAY CODY BRONC SENIOR HUNTER HAYS ANNOUNCED TO HIS TWITTER PAGE THAT HE HAS RECIEVED AN OFFER TO CONTINUE HIS ACADEMIC AND FOOTBALL CAREER AT ROCKY MOUNTAIN COLLEGE IN BILLINGS, MONT. I WAS ABLE TO CATCH UP WITH THE CODY SENIOR AND ASK HIM ABOUT EVERYTHING FROM THE RECRUITING PROCESS, TO PLAYING FOR CODY AND WHAT HIS NEXT STEPS ARE. HAYS ON WHAT INTRIGUES HIM ABOUT ROCKY’S PROGRAM.
“I REALLY LIKE THE OFFENSE THEY RUN. I FEEL LIKE IT FITS ME PRETTY WELL. HERE IN HIGH SCHOOL WE RAN A LOT OF RUN-PASS OPTION AND THAT IS A MAJORITY OF THEIR OFFENSE THERE, SO I THINK THAT REALLY FITS ME. THEN I REALLY LIKE THEIR COACHES, THEY MAKE THE TEAM HAVE A FAMILY ATMOSPHERE AND THAT’S REALLY WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR.”
ROCKY ISN’T THE ONLY COLLEGE THAT HAS HUNTER ON THEIR RADAR. HAYS HAS MORE VISITS LINED UP AND TALKS ABOUT THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS.
“SO I WAS LOOKING AT ROCKY AND THEN I’M ALSO LOOKING AT IDAHO STATE. I’M GOING THERE IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS AND THEN DICKINSON STATE TALKED TO ME FOR A LITTLE BIT TOO AND SOUTH DAKOTA SCHOOL OF MINES AND CARROLL COLLEGE. SO I’M LOOKING AT ALL THOSE GUYS TOO.”
DURING HIS SENIOR SEASON HAYS THREW FOR 874 YARDS COMPLETING ABOUT 50 PERCENT OF HIS PASSES, THREW FOR 10 TOUCHDOWNS AND ALSO ADDED 4 RUSHING TOUCHDOWNS. HAYS GOES ON TO TALK ABOUT THE CODY BRONC FOOTBALL PROGRAM FROM HIS TIME AS A BRONC TO THE COACHING STAFF THAT’S BEEN IN HIS CORNER FROM DAY ONE.
IT’S BEEN GREAT. IT WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE PLAYING FOR THIS HIGH SCHOOL. I WOULDN’T CHANGE ANYTHING. I LOVE MY TEAMMATES AND I’M REALLY GLAD THAT I GOT TO SPEND FOUR YEARS WITH THEM AND I’M EXCITED TO SEE HOW THINGS GO LOOKING FORWARD.”
HUNTER GOES ON TO TALK ABOUT THE COACHING STAFF. MCFADDEN HAS BEEN HIS COACH ALL FOUR YEARS. HAYS ADDS WHAT ITS BEEN LIKE TO PLAY FOR HIM.
“ITS BEEN PRETTY AMAZING. HE IS VERY SUPPORTIVE. HE HAS FUN BUT THEN HE KNOWS WHEN IT’S TIME TO GET SERIOUS AND I’VE LEARNED A LOT FROM HIM IN THAT RESPECT. HE’S ALSO REALLY PUSHED ON US THE WEIGHT ROOM AND THAT, THAT’S WHEN YOU WIN GAMES. YOU WIN IN THE DARK. I’VE LEARNED A LOT IN THAT ASPECT AS WELL.”
HAYS IS A MULTI-SPORT ATHLETE CURRENTLY PLAYING BASKETBALL AND IN THE SPRING WILL PLAY SOCCER. HAYS TOUCHES ON HOW THOSE SPORTS HELP HIM ON THE GRIDIRON AND ADDS WHAT NEEDS TO WORK ON GOING TO THE NEXT LEVEL
“IT REALLY HELPS WITH MY FOOT SPEED A LOT. BOTH OF THOSE SPORTS ARE QUICK TWITCH, YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO PLAY LIKE THAT. SO TRANSLATING THAT TO THE FOOTBALL FIELD I CAN HELP WITH MY MOVES AND STUFF. I’VE GOT TO KEEP THROWING EVERY DAY, GET MY ARM STRONGER. ITS GOT TO KEEP GOING UP. THEN ALSO NEED TO GAIN A LITTLE BIT OF WEIGHT. I’M A LITTLE ON THE SKINNY SIDE. SO THAT’S ONE OF THE BIG THINGS FOR ME TOO.”
HAYS HASN’T OFFICIAL SIGNED ON ANYWHERE YET AS HE STILL HAS A FEW OTHER COLLEGE VISITS. HIS LAST COLLEGE VISIT IS AT IDAHO STATE FEBRUARY SECOND AND HE TOLD ME HE HOPES TO MAKE A DECISION ON WHAT COLLEGE HE WILL ATTEND BY MID FEBRUARY. STAY TUNED TO THE BIG HORN RADIO NETWORK FOR MORE ON HUNTER’S RECRUITMENT PROCESS AND CODY ATHLETICS. TO LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEW IN ITS ENTIRETY VISIT: https://soundcloud.com/user-939526834/sets/sports-with-cole-havens
