For many student-athletes, the main factor motivating them to put in work day in and day out is the opportunity to be able to continue playing the game they love at a higher level. A cherry on top of all of this is being able to continue their career at a college they have grown up rooting for their whole life and having the ability to stay close to home.
For Christian Brothers High School senior lineman Sawyer Hays, the cherry on top was oh so sweet.
“When I received the offer from Sac State it was really special to me,” Hays said. “The whole Sac State staff was so supportive to me and my family throughout this process, and they really made it feel like a family atmosphere.
"There definitely is an added motivation staying close to home," Hays continued. "Many people move far away from friends and family but this gives me the opportunity to play in front of them every week and it allows them to support me more as I make the next step into college.”
On the road to receiving an offer from his hometown school, Sawyer attended the National Preps Collegiate Showcase at Vacaville Christian in Vacaville in November. Hays showed out, earning 2021 Lineman MVP honors from the event, an honor that Sawyer didn’t even know was a possibility coming into the day.
“Going into the camp I wasn’t even aware of awards and accolades being given out, I was more focused on making sure my reps were good for videos that would be sent out to colleges,” said Hays. “After I saw I had been named one of the top players at the showcase, it validated a lot of that work I had been putting in and it felt good to see that time I spent training was catching some eyes.”
While at the showcase, Hays caught the eye of National Preps Western Region Scout Paul Gregorian, who was very impressed by the young lineman’s high ceiling as a prospect.
“Sawyer passes the initial eye test in terms of physical measurables and overall length/frame,” explained Gregorian. “He is a raw prospect that needs to continue to develop but is a high ceiling kid once he learns how to bend and develop as a pass rusher.
"He can play multiple positions at the next level which makes him intriguing and could have potentially been a FBS prospect without COVID hitting and hurting the 2021s in the process," Gregorian continued. "Unlimited potential once he develops proper technique and finds a position that fits him best. One of the most intriguing prospects NorCal has to offer and a great get for Sac State.”
With 2020 presenting a situation like no other, it has been really hard for student-athletes so get their name out there to potential college programs. For Hays, there is now a sense of relief having the recruitment process behind him.
“I went to the National Preps showcase in Vacaville to get my name out there. This year has been the toughest for getting recruited because there have been no college camps and the dead period has continued to get extended,” said Sawyer. “After committing it gave me a better sense of stability knowing where I will be going to school next fall. With COVID this year it made everything a lot tougher because there are not as many opportunities out there for athletes. So for me to have the ability to commit to a great school, like Sac State, was the best decision for me.”