NEWPORT NEWS — Christopher Newport University junior Trey Hayes was named pre-season All-America Thursday by D3football.com. Hayes, a return specialist and wide receiver from Sterling, was selected second-team All-America by the website for his outstanding work returning kicks and punts.
Click HERE for the complete pre-season All-America squad.
Hayes was named first team All-State by the Virginia Sports Information Directors (VaSID, as well as third team All-Region by d3football.com and first team All-Conference in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) for his fantastic success on returns of kickoffs. He led the NJAC by averaging 27.8 yards per return on 17 kickoff run backs. Last October 14th, Hayes scored on a 95-yard game-opening kickoff return in the rain at Rowan. He also returned ten punts for 45 yards for the Captains in 2023.
As a wide receiver, Hayes caught 37 passes for 571 yards (an average of 51.9 yards per game) including six for touchdowns. He averaged a team-high 106.9 yards per game in all-purpose yardage, and even ran the ball 13 times for 88 yards (6.8 yards per carry).
His fantastic sophomore season may have been highlighted by his efforts on November 4th at TowneBank Stadium vs. Montclair State. Hayes piled up 213 yards in total offense. He also caught a season-high ten passes, including a scoring reception, at TCNJ on November 10th as the Captains wrapped up the NJAC title for the first time ever.
Hayes, and the rest of his teammates, will report to CNU next week to begin pre-season workouts. He becomes the sixth pre-season All-American in CNU football history. The Captains recorded a 7-4 record last season, and concluded the season with a return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2014.
CNU will open its 24th season of action on Saturday, September 7th, traveling to Angola, Indiana, to play Trine University for the first time ever. Paul Crowley’s squad will entertain Johns Hopkins during Family Weekend on September 14th at TowneBank Stadium in its home opener. Kickoff is set for 5:00 p.m.
