Mercury Hayes

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Mercury Hayes
No. 89, 84
Position:
Houston, Texas, U.S.
Height:5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:195 lb (88 kg)
Career information
College:Michigan
NFL draft:1996 / Round: 5 / Pick: 136
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
  • reception
    (1995–2001)
Career NFL statistics
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Mercury Wayne Hayes (born January 1, 1973) is a former professional

punt returner. He has played in the National Football League (NFL) for the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons,[1] and he has played in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for the Montreal Alouettes.[2] Prior to his professional football experience he was a University of Michigan Wolverines football star. He was drafted with the 136th overall pick in the 5th round of the 1996 National Football League draft.[3]

Although he had a modest professional career, he was involved in many of the University of Michigan's most memorable football moments. He is notable for his game-winning catch in the 1995

Houston, Texas.[6]

College career

Rose Bowl

After attending Booker T. Washington High School in Houston, Hayes, son of Richard Hayes,

reception during the game.[9]

Hayes' 179-yard performance against the

Chris Floyd.[10] The effort tied Jack Clancy's 1966 single-game total and Amani Toomer's 1994 single-game total for fourth on the Michigan all-time single game reception yards list.[11][12] It is worth noting that Clancy is the Michigan all-time single-game yardage recordholder at 197 yards.[10] Braylon Edwards and Tai Streets have since surpassed 179 yards, in 2004 and 1998 respectively, to move the trio down to sixth.[13][14] Hayes' 48 receptions and 923 yards also led all Wolverines in receiving for the 1995 season.[10] At the end of his Michigan career, Hayes' 923 yards ranked sixth on the single-season yardage list, but it is now fifteenth. His 2144 career yards ranked fifth and now ranks eleventh. The quarterbacks during his 1995 season were Brian Griese and Scott Dreisbach. Other quarterbacks during his collegiate career were Todd Collins and Elvis Grbac.[10]

In 1995, Hayes established the Michigan football record for most consecutive games with a reception by stringing together thirty such games. His record was broken by

all-purpose yards. He is listed prominently among Michigan's all-time leaders in kickoff returns and yards as well as total returns (kickoff, punt, fumble and interception) and return yards.[4]

Amani Toomer and Hayes were the fourth pair of Michigan receivers to have played together with 2000 career reception yards.[6] With 2,144 career yards and 124 receptions he ranks 10th and 12th on the All-time Michigan lists 2 yards behind Desmond Howard and 1 reception behind Derrick Alexander respectively.[10]

Notable games

Hayes, who wore #9 for the

University of Colorado, Florida State University, University of Arkansas, and University of Southern California. The University of Colorado was so interested in having him in the 1992 incoming class with Koy Detmer and Rashaan Salaam that they reserved their 25th scholarship for him, hoping he would change his mind after having committed to Michigan.[7]

In the September 24, 1994

kickoffs for 54 yards.[10] The ending of this game has been described as one of the two wildest finishes in University of Michigan Football history.[17]

Hayes is notable for his 7-reception 179-yard performance culminating in a game-winning, fourth down, time expired 15-yard touchdown catch on August 26, 1995 from Scott Dreisbach to seal an 18–17 win in Michigan's greatest comeback,[18][19] a record that stood for eight years until 2003, when the Wolverines pulled off a 21-point comeback against Minnesota.[20] The reception was recorded against University of Virginia Cavaliers defensive backs Ronde Barber and Paul London in the Pigskin Classic to complete what was at the time the largest comeback in Michigan Football history in Lloyd Carr's coaching debut.[18][21] The game constituted the other of the two wildest finishes in Michigan Football history.[17]

Hayes is notable as one of the victims of Beaver Stadium attendees' ice and snowball hurling on November 18, 1995.[22] In the game, Hayes caught 6 receptions for 132 yards and had 3 kickoff returns for 48 yards. The game ended as a 27–17 loss to the Penn State Nittany Lions.[23]

Hayes also had season highs in reception yards as a

kickoff returner.[10]

Professional career

The

1997 National Football League season on the New Orleans Saints' roster and appeared in 4 games.[1][30]

Hayes signed with the

Washington Redskins and added to their practice squad, but was released 19 days later.[32] In February 1999, he was drafted by the Barcelona Dragons,[33] but he was released from the team five weeks later.[34]

Mercury Hayes was signed by the

af2,[44]
and this was his last attempt at professional football.

See also
  • Lists of Michigan Wolverines football receiving leaders

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d "Mercury Hayes". databaseSports.com. Archived from the original on August 28, 2007. Retrieved October 22, 2007.
  2. ^ "All-Time Alouettes Roster" (PDF). Montreal Alouettes Football Club. 2006. Retrieved October 22, 2007. [dead link]
  3. ^ "University of Michigan Football NFL Draft History:1990s". Regents of the University of Michigan. Retrieved October 18, 2007. [dead link]
  4. ^ a b c "Record Book" (PDF). University of Michigan & Host Interactive. 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 29, 2008. Retrieved December 28, 2007.
  5. ^ a b "1992 Football Team". The Regents of the University of Michigan. April 9, 2007. Retrieved December 31, 2007.
  6. ^ a b c Signora, Michael (November 18, 1995). "Wolverine senior flanker Hayes spices up Michigan's potent aerial assault". Collegian Inc. Retrieved October 31, 2020.
  7. ^ a b "Mercury Hayes commits to Michigan/Colorado recruiting summary". February 11, 1992. Retrieved October 23, 2007.
  8. ^ "Michigan's Bowl Game History: 1993 Rose Bowl". Bentley Historical Library. The Regents of the University of Michigan. April 10, 2006. Archived from the original on January 5, 2008. Retrieved December 31, 2007.
  9. ^ "Versus Washington January 1, 1993". Regents of the University of Michigan. 2003. Archived from the original on May 7, 2005. Retrieved December 31, 2007.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h "M Go Blue - University of Michigan Athletics Official Site". Regents of the University of Michigan. Archived from the original on November 12, 2007. Retrieved October 22, 2007.
  11. ^ "Versus Illinois November 5, 1966". Regents of the University of Michigan. 2003. Archived from the original on May 26, 2005. Retrieved December 1, 2007.
  12. ^ "Versus Boston College September 3, 1994". Regents of the University of Michigan. 2003. Archived from the original on May 2, 2005. Retrieved December 1, 2007.
  13. ^ "Versus Michigan State October 30, 2004". Regents of the University of Michigan. 2003. Archived from the original on March 7, 2009. Retrieved December 1, 2007.
  14. ^ "Versus Minnesota October 31, 1998". Regents of the University of Michigan. 2003. Archived from the original on April 28, 2005. Retrieved December 1, 2007.
  15. ^ "Bentley Historical Library -- -- U of M Football Rosters". The Regents of the University of Michigan. August 25, 2003. Archived from the original on September 28, 2007. Retrieved November 4, 2007.
  16. ^ Maisel, Ivan (June 11, 2007). "Stewart to Westbrook silenced Big House crowd". ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved October 23, 2007.
  17. ^
    ISBN 978-1-933060-49-1
    .
  18. ^ a b "COLLEGE FOOTBALL; Michigan Finds Miracle of Its Own to Overcome Virginia". The New York Times. August 27, 1995. Retrieved November 18, 2007.
  19. ^ "Virginia vs. Michigan". USA Today. August 26, 1995. Retrieved July 22, 2010.
  20. ^ LaPointe, Joe (October 11, 2003). "COLLEGE FOOTBALL; Navarre Brings Michigan All the Way Back". The New York Times. Retrieved December 14, 2008.
  21. ^ "Versus Virginia August 26, 1995 (box score)". M Go Blue. Regents of the University of Michigan. 2003. Archived from the original on May 3, 2005. Retrieved October 22, 2007.
  22. ^ Longman, Jere (November 19, 1995). "FOOTBALL;Lions Win With Trick And Snowplow Offense". The New York Times Company. Retrieved November 18, 2007.
  23. ^ "Versus Penn State November 18, 1995". Regents of the University of Michigan. Archived from the original on May 3, 2005. Retrieved November 18, 2007.
  24. ^ "Versus Houston September 25, 1993". Regents of the University of Michigan. Archived from the original on August 26, 2005. Retrieved January 25, 2008.
  25. ^ "Draft Pick History". NewOrleansProFootball.com. Archived from the original on October 17, 2007. Retrieved October 23, 2007.
  26. ^ "1996 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  27. ^ Alder, James. "Joe Horn". About, Inc. Retrieved October 22, 2007.
  28. ^ Serpas, Frank III. "Saints 10 Rams 26 Summary". Archived from the original on February 17, 2005. Retrieved October 23, 2007.
  29. ^ "NFC salaries". USAToday. May 22, 1997. Retrieved October 22, 2007.
  30. ^ "1997 New Orleans Saints". CNN/SI. September 18, 1997. Retrieved October 22, 2007.
  31. ^ "Mercury Hayes". ESPN Internet Ventures. 1999. Retrieved October 22, 2007.
  32. ^ "Mercury Hayes". AlumniAtlas.com. Retrieved October 22, 2007.[permanent dead link]
  33. Newsbank
    . February 24, 1999. Retrieved December 6, 2008.
  34. Newsbank
    . March 30, 1999. Retrieved December 6, 2008.
  35. ^ "Transactions". The New York Times Company. June 17, 1999. Retrieved November 18, 2007.
  36. Newsbank
    . July 3, 1999. Retrieved December 6, 2008.
  37. Newsbank
    . August 31, 1999. Retrieved December 6, 2008.
  38. ^ "Hayes rallies Als past Ticats". CBC 2007. June 27, 2000. Retrieved November 19, 2007.
  39. ^ "ALOUETTES 62, Roughriders 7: Riders winless in 14 games". Slam Sports CFL Football. Canoe Inc. August 3, 2000. Archived from the original on September 22, 2002. Retrieved November 19, 2007.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  40. ^ "ESKIMOS 29, Alouettes 7: Esks end Als undefeated season". Slam Sports CFL Football. Canoe Inc. August 11, 2000. Archived from the original on September 22, 2002. Retrieved November 19, 2007.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  41. ^ "Als hand Stamps first loss of the season". CBC. November 10, 2000. Archived from the original on October 25, 2012. Retrieved November 19, 2007.
  42. ^ "2000 Receiving Statistics". Montreal Alouettes Football Club. 2006. Archived from the original on July 14, 2011. Retrieved November 19, 2007.
  43. Newsbank
    . September 8, 2000. Retrieved December 6, 2008.
  44. ^ "NIGHTHAWKS REPORT". The Virginian-Pilot. NewsLibrary.com. April 4, 2002. Retrieved January 25, 2008.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mercury_Hayes&oldid=1201929328"