Florida 2024 QB James Hayes dropping jaws with arm strength at camps
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
A knee injury took James Hayes from rising star status to under the radar last fall. But college coaches are now seeing what the 2024 gunslinger can do after back-to-back camp performances with Miami and Florida Atlantic. The Coconut Creek High School (Fla.) talent impressed so much during Miami’s 7-on-7 tournament head coach Mario Cristobal pulled him aside for a one-on-one talk and a throwing session.
Offers have been dropped by Bethune-Cookman and Florida A&M, but some friends are about to join that list. Hayes (6-4.5, 225) spoke about his best camp thus far under the watchful eyes of the Hurricanes’ coaching staff.
“We won a couple of games, and I showed that I can command an offense,” Hayes said. “I showed that I can win period. I was able to show my arm strength. We won a lot of games. After the camp, I spoke with coach Cristobal. They invited me upstairs; coach Cristobal gave me his number. They also worked me out in a private workout.”
The time with the Hurricanes’ head coach was covered.
“Coach Cristobal talked about seeing me more, at the same time, he wants to take time with a quarterback,” Hayes stated. “He said he loves what he saw, loves that I was spreading the ball around, and likes how I throw. He said he likes me as a person; he loves me as a person.”
The workout was during the lunch period, a 30-ball throwing session.
“I threw a couple of passes with their QB coach, coach (Shannon) Dawson,” Hayes shared. “They wanted to see how I threw on the run. I just threw into the net.”
After slaying it at Florida International, add another coaching staff loving what they are seeing in Hayes.
“It went well, we made it to the playoffs in their 7-on-7 tournament,” Hayes stated. “I had a good tournament. I was very accurate, calm and poised, and was doing my job. At the camp, I spoke with their coaches. They wanted me back on Sunday, but I can’t, I am going on a college tour. They took my number down and said they would be recruiting me heavy.”
Bowling Green, FIU, Miami, and Toledo are among the teams showing interest, the college camp tour Hayes is about to embark on is sure to add more to the list.
“Right now, we are heading up to LSU,” Hayes said. “We are taking our O-line and D-line with us on the tour. I know we are going to Jacksonville State, Louisiana-Monroe, Georgia State, and a couple more.”