 Exceptionally fast and athletic linebacker… Earned starting WLB job during 2009 training camp… Played in 18 career games with eight starts, totaling 83 tackles, six passes defensed and eight special teams tackles… Scored the first touchdown of his career vs. Carolina (10/12), blocking a punt and returning it 22 yards for a touchdown… Blocked second punt of his career vs. Green Bay (11/8/09) which was returned by CB Ronde Barber for a touchdown… Rookie season cut short because of knee injury suffered in Week 11 vs. Minnesota… Subsequently placed on Injured Reserve on November 19, 2008… Originally entered the NFL as a sixth round selection (175th overall) of the Buccaneers in the 2008 NFL Draft. |
 2009: Played in all nine games with eight starts (all but vs. Dallas) on the season… Played at WLB against Dallas (9/13), recording six tackles, including one TFL, and thee QBPs… Added one special teams tackle against the Cowboys… Made first career start at Buffalo (9/20), posting a career-high 16 tackles and two QBPs against the Bills… Notched six tackles, including one TFL, and one pass defensed vs. N.Y. Giants (9/27)… Finished game at Washington (10/4) with nine tackles, including two TFLs… Posted four tackles at Philadelphia (10/11)… Tallied eight tackles, one pass defensed and one QBP vs. Carolina (10/18)… Finished game vs. New England (10/25) with seven tackles, one pass defensed and one QBP… Tallied seven tackles, including one TFL, vs. Green Bay (11/8)… Also blocked the second punt of his career against the Packers which CB Ronde Barber returned 31 yards for a touchdown… Finished game at Miami (11/15) with 12 tackles, one QBP and two passes defensed. |
 2008: Played in nine contests and inactive for one other (at New Orleans) before being placed in Injured Reserve on November 19 with a knee injury… Totaled eight tackles, one pass defensed and seven special teams tackles on the season… At the time of his injury, ranked tied for fourth with seven special teams tackles… Also blocked one punt, returning it 22 yards for a touchdown… Inactive in season opener at New Orleans (9/7)… Had four tackles in first NFL action against Atlanta (9/14)… Saw limited action at Chicago (9/21) posting two tackles… Added one special teams tackle against the Bears… Posted one special teams stop vs. Green Bay (9/28)… Saw action on special teams at Denver (10/5)… Recorded first career touchdown vs. Carolina (10/12), blocking a punt and returning it 22 yards for a touchdown… Finished game against the Panthers with two tackles, one pass defensed and one special teams tackle… Tallied one special teams tackle against Seattle (10/19)… Played on special teams at Dallas (10/26)… Posted one special teams tackle at Kansas City (11/2)… Appeared on special teams vs. Minnesota (11/16), recording two special teams tackles. |
 Left Florida State after his junior season to enter the NFL Draft... One of the most explosive and hardest-hitting linebackers in college football... Played in 35 games with 21 starts in three seasons at Florida State... Collected 156 tackles (93 solo) with eight sacks, 29.5 stops for losses and two quarterback pressures... Caused two fumbles, recovered another and deflected seven passes... Scored on a blocked punt that he recovered in the end zone and also on a 38-yard interception return... Registered 17.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage in 2007, the sixth-best season total in school history, topped by Brodrick Bunkley (25 in 2005), Darnell Dockett (22 in 2001), Alonzo Jackson (18.5 in 2002), Lawrence Timmons (18 in 2006) and Travis Johnson (18 in 2004)... His 29.5 tackles for losses ranked 12th in Seminoles history... An All-ACC second team selection by The Sporting News... Preseason All-ACC third team selection by Athlon Magazine the nation's 21st ranked linebacker heading into the 2007 season by Rivals.com... Spent the spring playing middle linebacker as Derek Nicholson recovered from injury... Started 10 games (all during the 2006 season) and played in 23 games during the first two years of his career... ACC Defensive Back of the Week for his performance in the Seminoles' 2006 season-opening win over Miami... Majored in undergraduate studies. |
 Spoke to students at Memorial Middle School in October 2008 and Liberty Middle School in January 2009 about the importance of physical activity and sound nutrition during the Buccaneers and American Heart Association “What Moves U” fitness rallies and promoted health and fitness at the “What Moves U” Fitness Challenge in February 2009… Taught football fundamentals and signed autographs for youth at the NFL Cheerleading Clinic during 2009 Super Bowl week… Visited with patients at All Children’s Hospital during the Rookie Club’s annual visit in 2008… Sang Christmas Carols at Westminster Palms Nursing Home in St. Petersburg with members of the Rookie Club in 2008… Sorted and distributed food for Metropolitan Ministries’ Holiday Assistance Program with Rookie Club members in November 2008… Coached youth participants at the Ryan Nece Mind & Body Clinic to promote health and fitness in July 2008…Coached football drills and fundamentals to local Pop Warner participants during the second annual Rookie Club Football Camp in June 2008... Hosted a bowling outing for foster children with the Rookie Club in May 2008…Attended Madison County (Greenville, Fla.) High School, where he was rated the third-best linebacker in the country according to Tom Lemming of ESPN.com...Was a four-star player by Rivals.com., as that service also rated him the nation's third-best outside linebacker and the fifth-best overall prospect in the state of Florida... Added second-team-All USA Today All-American honors and was a first-team choice by Parade Magazine... Played in the Cali-Florida All-Star game, where he tackled a California player on the last play of the game to help lead the Florida team to victory, posting six tackles with three stops for losses in that contest... As a senior, he had 124 tackles with 27 for losses and 11 sacks... Registered 130 tackles, 20 stops behind the line of scrimmage, 19 sacks and three interceptions as a junior... Born Eugene Antonio Hayes in Greenville, Florida, on August 10, 1987. |
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