Louisiana Football: Interview with Denham Springs Defensive Star OLB Hayden Rushing

Written by Charlie Beuttel

Twitter: @charlie_cds3

Hayden Rushing put his name out in a big way in 2021 as the junior defensive star racked up 59 total tackles including seven for a loss, two sacks with 10 quarterback hurries, and one fumble recovery. Rushing also blocked two field goals and recovered two onside kicks for Denham Springs High School.

This 6’3”, 205-pound, tackling machine uses his great strength and physicality to deliver big hits to his opponents. The junior star also has good footwork and field vision.

This Class of 2023 prospect is already drawing college interest and it’s just a matter of time before his recruiting process takes off like a rocket.

In an exclusive Recruiting News Guru interview, I caught up with Hayden to talk about his great junior season and get an update on his recruiting process.

Interview

Hayden, how would you describe your junior season?

It was a complete breakout season for me.

What are your strengths on the football field?

My hit power and tackling ability.

How would you describe your style of play?

I’m very aggressive.

What was your most memorable moment and why?

We had a fourth down stop against Walker in overtime to win the game after coming from behind 21-0.

What is one area of your game that you saw improvement in over the course of the season?

All areas of my game showed improvement but especially block shedding.

Is there an NFL player that you try to model your game after?

TJ Watt; he’s an animal and can do whatever the team asks of him.

What kind of challenges did you face this season?

We faced the loss of our coach, a teammate and coming from a 1-9 season.

How did you overcome these challenges?

We put in a lot of hard work and adapted to whatever the game threw at us.

What do you like the most about playing on the defensive side of the ball?

I love to hit, and defense wins championships.

What are your maxes in the weight room?

I bench 280, squat 405, my max power clean is 270, and my deadlift is 405.

Are you receiving interest from any colleges?

I am receiving interest, but I’d like to keep the schools private at this time.

What do you like most about playing at Denham Springs?

The community and brotherhood we have there. I couldn’t play with a better group of guys.

What is your GPA?

3.0 but I plan to raise it.

Thank you for your time.

Thank you, sir.

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Photo credit: The Livingston Parish News; Denham Springs LB/DE Hayden Rushing

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