St. Thomas Lineman Isaac Hayes Excited To Become A Golden Gopher

Hayes helped lead the Cadets to a 9-1 mark this season, losing to South St. Paul 32-31 in the Section 3AAAA finals.

Hayes paced the Cadets to an 11-1 mark as a junior, losing to eventual Class AAAA champion Totino-Grace 28-21 in the state semifinals.

Hayes picked Minnesota over interest from Air Force, Western Michigan, Boise State, Air Force, Oregon State, Wyoming, Virginia Tech, Army and Navy. He has also received offers from North Dakota State, South Dakota State and Northern Iowa.

Hayes comes from a football family, His older brother, Anthony Hayes is a freshman this year at Stanford.

GopherHole.com recently caught up with Hayes to learn more about his senior year and expectations as a freshman.

GH: You were named to the KARE-11 and Minneapolis Star Tribune All-Metro teams and the St. Paul Pioneer Press All-State team. You have to be pleased with some of the honors that you have received?

IH: It shows that hard work really pays off. The coaches helped make me a better player.

GH: I know that it was tough losing in the playoffs like you did, but you have to be pleased how well the team played this season?

IH: I think that I was pretty happy with how we worked hard and came together as a team. I have to give it to South St. Paul. They played us really well. I am kind of disappointed because we set our sights so high, like winning a state championship and the section finals. People will think that we had an off season, but a lot of good things happened like we played together as a team. South St. Paul played us really well, so I have to hand it to them.

GH: I know that you were on the swim team in the past, but you had recently told me that you are not going to compete. What things are you going to be doing this winter?

IH: Right now, I am doing squats and the bench three days a week and I am doing miscellaneous stuff the other two days like biceps and triceps. I am just waiting to get the Minnesota lifting program. I’ll get that when I sign.

GH: Are you doing track in the spring?

IH: I’ll probably run with the track coach. I don’t think that I’ll be doing shot put or discus. I am looking forward to getting faster.

GH: Are you excited about getting the Signing Day behind you?

IH: Yes. Getting it out of the way. Recruiting has been kind of stressful. Once I sign my name on that line, it will be over.

GH: Do you still hear from any other schools?

IH: Not really. Just Minnesota.

GH: Your brother is down at Stanford. Have you had a chance to watch them on TV? They’ve had some big games like USC Oregon and Stanford.

IH: Yes. I watch them every week. It’s been sweet that they have been in the top ten, top five.

GH: Does he like it out there?

IH: Yes. He likes it a lot.

GH: Minnesota hasn’t maybe had the season that they were hoping for, but I know that they are excited about you, Maxx Williams, Phil Nelson, Mitch Leidner and Jonah Pirsig joining the team for next year. I know that you have gotten to know those guys. Have you talked about trying to get things turned around at Minnesota?

IH: Yes. That is something that we have talked about. Minnesota is an up and rising program. I think after the Iowa, Michigan State and Northwestern games, I think it showed the potential of the team and that they could be a really good team.

GH: Have they talked you about next year? Typically, lineman are redshirted to get bigger, have they said much about that yet?

IH: They haven’t really said either way. I am going to be playing center, so I will start taking snaps this summer.

GH: Is that a position that you have played much?