Thunder acquire former Division II standout
Thursday December 4, 2014
PORTLAND – The Portland Thunder have been assigned rookie DL/LB Robert Hayes, announced Head Coach Mike Hohensee on Wednesday.
“Robert is a talented player with a relentless motor, and he has that ability at several positions,” stated Hohensee.
Hayes [6-foot-2 273lbs., Shepard (Shepardstown, WV)] will enter his first season in the Arena Football League and first in Thunder uniform. Robert comes to the Thunder following a career season with the Division II Shepard University Rams (Mountain East Conference).
A 2013 Academic All-American, Robert was the cornerstone of a Shepard defense that was ranked first nationally in Division II. Hayes set conference defensive records for sacks (10) and tackles for loss (11) in the newly formed MEC. His performances in 2013 also led the former Ram to first team all-conference and all-region honors, in addition to picking up the MEC’s first ever “Defensive Player of the Year” award.
A native of Woodbridge, Virginia, Robert was a four year starter and three year captain for Shepard, and was the first player in team history to garner an invite to the NFL Combine.
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