This series of articles will be taking a look at the 2024 Kentucky football roster, player by player, by jersey number as we approach the season. Number 97 for the Wildcats is defensive lineman Josaih Hayes.
Hayes is a 6’3″, 317 lbs defensive lineman who is expected to be the starting nose tackle for Kentucky. He played in every game last season, and had 24 tackles, including 4.5 for a loss. He added 1.5 sacks and was credited with a pass breakup.
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Originally, he came to Kentucky as a very good recruit. He was rated as high as four stars by some recruiting services, and was a top 200 player in the 2020 class according to Rivals. He chose the Wildcats over the Ole Miss Rebels.
Thus far, in his Wildcats career, he only has a couple of starts, but likely starts in the middle of the defensive line this season. He has plenty of experience, and has shown an ability to make plays. He’ll be counted on to solidify a strong line in 2024.