After Saturday’s 31-13 win at Georgia Tech, defensive end Daelin Hayes walked away with game ball honors from his head coach Brian Kelly as well as from every member of the Fighting Irish Wire staff.
On Monday it was announced that the graduate student received an even bigger award, this as the ACC’s defensive lineman of the week.
Release:
NOTRE DAME, Indiana — Notre Dame graduate student defensive lineman Daelin Hayes was named ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week for his performance in the 31-13 win at Georgia Tech last week. The selection marks the first ACC weekly honor for Hayes, and the sixth of the season for the Irish.
Hayes, named the Pro Football Focus Defensive MVP of the Week, totaled 2.0 sacks and two forced fumbles at Georgia Tech, both career-high single-game marks for the graduate student. Both forced fumbles came on the sacks. Hayes’ two forced fumbles tie for the most in a single game among all FBS players this season, and he was the only player in the Power 5 to reach the mark over the weekend.
In Atlanta, the Irish D-Line held Georgia Tech to just 88 rushing yards, while entering the game, Georgia Tech had averaged 180.7 rushing yards per game (sixth in the ACC). With the help of Hayes’ 2.0 sacks, the Irish sacked Georgia Tech a total of 5.0 times. Entering the game, Georgia Tech had allowed just 1.67 sacks per game (10 total).
Hayes finished the day totaling 2.0 sacks (-14 yards), two FF, five tackles (four solo) and one QBH.
No. 4 Notre Dame (6-0, 5-0 ACC) returns home to face No. 1 Clemson (7-0, 6-0 ACC) Saturday. Coverage begins at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC.
NOTRE DAME ACC WEEKLY HONORS:
9/14: Kyren Williams, Running Back of the Week (Duke)
9/21: Robert Hainsey, co-Offensive Lineman of the Week (South Florida)
10/19: Kyren Williams, Rookie of the Week (Louisville)
10/26: Ian Book, Quarterback of the Week; Liam Eichenberg, Offensive Lineman of the Week (Pittsburgh)
11/2: Daelin Hayes, Defensive Lineman of the Week (Georgia Tech)