Colorado scored an impressive transfer portal commitment on Monday when former Ohio State running back Dallan Hayden announced he’s headed to Boulder.
As a freshman in 2022, Hayden was part of a three-headed backfield that also included Miyan Williams and TreVeyon Henderson. Hayden ranked second on the team in carries (111) and third in rushing yards (553).
He redshirted last season as he fell out of favor in the Ohio State offense. In three games, Hayden had 19 carries, 110 yards and a touchdown.
He’s a low-risk, high-reward pickup who could become an important part of Colorado’s offense and relieve some of the strain on quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
Hayden’s addition is another step in the right direction for Deion and Colorado. Per On3the team is third in transfer portal team rankings. This past weekend, the Buffaloes added a pair of talented defensive linemen, Rayyan Buell and Dayon Hayes, as well as 2023 four-star offensive lineman recruit Payton Kirkland, who transferred from Texas.
Buell had 12 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks last season at Ohio, while Hayes led Pittsburgh with 10.5 tackles for loss while adding four sacks.
The string of positive updates follows former five-star recruit Cormani McClain’s decision to enter the transfer portal last week.
Afterward, Deion said“I pray to God that he goes to a program that challenges him, as well as hold him accountable and develop him as a young man.”
On Sunday, McClain fired backsaying on his YouTube channel, “I feel like I just don’t want to play for clicks. I actually want to be involved with a great program that’s going to develop players.”
Colorado went 4-8 last season, its sixth losing season in seven years.