Who needs Ancestry.com when you can just visit the place where your dad played college football?
Jewett Hayes might think so.
The defensive end of Cincinnati’s Archbishop Moeller High of the Class of 2024 saw Iowa Football in person on May 13. His father, Jonathan Hayes, ended up playing for the Hawkeyes during their very successful run in the mid-1980s.
Jewett entered the Iowa facility and was transported back into his father’s history with the Hawkeyes.
“The part of visiting Iowa that I enjoyed the most was seeing all of my dad’s awards and pictures of him playing,” he told HN. “The coolest part was when I got to wear my dad’s jersey and do a photo shoot.”
Iowa offered Hayes a scholarship in January. It came a week after he picked up one of Kentucky’s head coaches, Mark Stoops, who also played for the Hawkeyes in the ’80s.
Jewett (6-4, 190) was accompanied by his mother, Kristi, and sister, Jillian, on his visit to Iowa. Jonathan could not start the journey.
“My dad was really upset that he couldn’t come, but he had to take my little brother (Jonah) to a basketball tournament,” Jewett said.
Haye’s family
(L-R) Jillian Hayes, Jewett Hayes, Kristi Hayes
Scroll to Next
Jewett appreciated the relaxed atmosphere of the visit.
“I really enjoyed just talking to the coaches and being there with my sister and my mum. The coaches talked to me about the process and predicted how tall and how heavy I should be,” he said.
“I spoke to (coach) Kirk Ferentz. We talked about the program and some other things. I spoke to strength coach Raimond Braithwaite and asked him about his philosophy. He showed me how he developed them and how they improved by senior year.”
Hayes is just finishing his sophomore year of high school. He feels like he’s at the beginning of his recruitment process. He’s glad Iowa is involved.
“I’ve had a great time looking at the history of Iowa football. I can’t wait to see how things develop,” he said.
Jewett was previously in Iowa. He visited campus with his older brother, Jaxon Hayes, a former football recruit who now plays with the NBA’s New Orleans Pelicans.
Jillian Hayes started in all 28 games for the University of Cincinnati basketball team last season, averaging 11.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 2.2 steals and 1.3 blocks as a sophomore.
As a sophomore, Jewett recorded 10 tackles (5 solo) and was credited with a quarterback rush in eight games at varsity.
Rivals ranks Jewett as a three-star contender and the No. 11 player in Ohio State for 24.
You can watch Jewett’s second highlights HERE.
