Dallan Hayden has declared his intention to enter the transfer portal prior to the Ohio State Spring Game. Reports from On3sports suggest he will be visiting Colorado this week.
With Miyan Williams entering the NFL draft process and Chip Trayanum transferring to Kentucky, Hayden would have likely been second on the depth chart for this season, until Mississippi running back Quinshon Judkins announced his commitment to Ohio State.
Injuries limited Hayden’s playing time last season, with just 19 carries for 110 yards before he was redshirted. However, in the 2022 season, he showed promise with 576 scrimmage yards, including three games where he rushed for over 100 yards. His standout performance came in a 13-point win in College Park, Maryland, where he rushed 27 times for 146 yards and three touchdowns.
Colorado has already seen 15 players enter the transfer portal this spring, including junior running back Alton McCaskill, who was their fourth-leading rusher last season. The Buffaloes are left with only two active members in their backfield: sophomore Dylan Edwards and junior Sy’veon Wilkerson, after Anthony Hankerson transferred to Oregon State and Kavosiey Smoke graduated.
If Hayden chooses to commit to Deion Sanders at Colorado, he’ll face competition from Edwards, Wilkerson, incoming freshman Micah Welch, and redshirts Charlie Offerdahl and Christian Sarem.
Hayden has shown himself to be a productive back when healthy, so he shouldn’t have trouble finding a new team even if he doesn’t join the Buffaloes.
