Dallan Hayden runs the ball against Cameron Martinez during Ohio State’s Spring Game.
Richard Parrish | The Lima News
COLUMBUS — Former Ohio State football running back Dallan Hayden will have the chance to showcase his skills for a program certain to draw attention.
On3’s Hayes Fawcett reported Hayden has committed to Colorado. Hayden will have three years of eligibility thanks to using a redshirt season last year for the Buckeyes.
Hayden rushed for 553 yards and five touchdowns as a true freshman in 2022, picking up for injured lead backs TreVeyon Henderson and Miyan Williams. He operated as the No. 3 or 4 back last season while OSU protected that redshirt.
With the possibility of Henderson leaving for the NFL Draft, Hayden could have gone into 2024 as OSU’s lead or No. 2 back. Instead, Henderson stayed, and former Ole Miss All-SEC selection Quinshon Judkins transferred in, leaving Hayden relegated to No. 3 back status again.
Instead, he opted to transfer and immediately became one of the more sought-after backs in the transfer portal.
Colorado and head coach Deion Sanders received considerable preseason attention in 2023. The hype spiked when the Buffaloes opened the season with a win over TCU and started 3-0. Then they lost eight of their final nine games.
Colorado’s 827 rushing yards ranked last in the Pac-12 last season. Other backfield contenders include Alton McCaskill, the former AAC Rookie of the Year at Houston, and Dylan Edwards, who became a solid receiving option last season as a freshman.
