Marcus Hayes Named MW Defensive Player of the Week
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Marcus Hayes, a redshirt freshman from Rockford, Illinois, was named the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Week after his two-interception performance against New Mexico State on Saturday. He is the first Lobo to earn the honor this year.
Hayes was joined in the weekly honors by Fresno State quarterback Marcus McMaryion as the Offensive Player of the Week, and kicker John Baron II as the Special Teams Player of the Week. Additionally, Hayes was named to the Group of Five Honor Roll for his performance by the Paul Hornung Award, an annual award to the best two-way player in the nation.
Hayes twice thwarted scoring drives in the fourth quarter with interceptions, UNM’s fourth and fifth of the game. His first came with 3:31 left and UNM holding a 35-25 lead. Hayes picked off Josh Adkins at the 1-yard line and returned the ball to the 9-yard line, preserving UNM’s 10-point lead. Then was 28 seconds left, Hayes stepped in front of an Adkins pass and aced untouched 60 yards for a touchdown. That was UNM’s record-tying fifth pick of the game, and it gave UNM 148 return yards in the game, which was a school record.
Hayes overall had four tackles to go along with his two interceptions. Additionally, he set up UNM’s first touchdown with a 27-yard punt return. His efforts on both defense and special teams earned him a second honor as well, as he was named to the Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll by the Louisville Sports Commission.
New Mexico has a bye weekend coming up and then returns home on Saturday, September 29 to take on Liberty University for Homecoming. UNM, sitting at 2-1 on the season, has five-game season ticket plans available now at https://unmtickets.com/5-game-football/. Those five game plans can be purchased for as little as $70 for Cherry Level Adult tickets, and $45 for Cherry Level Youth tickets.
Hayes clinches the win 42-25 over New Mexico State #GoLobos pic.twitter.com/Tj05Ims2pS
— New Mexico Lobos (@UNMLOBOS) September 16, 2018