A three-star recruit out of Cosumnes Oaks High School in Elk Grove, California, Hailassie played receiver and had over a dozen offers, most in the Mountain West and PAC-12. He committed to Oregon and played two seasons with the Ducks, playing a little cornerback, but mostly on special teams.
Hailassie attempted to transfer to Weber State in 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic put a damper on those plans. Hailassie ended up at Independence Community College in Independence, Kansas. He didn’t end up playing football that season, but kept up his academics and was able to transfer to Western Kentucky in 2021.