Hayward heads to the NFL

On Sunday morning, the Portland State Vikings’ standout linebacker Adam Hayward received news that would change his life forever.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had just selected him with the 187th overall pick in the sixth round of the 2007 NFL draft.

“I picked up my phone and it was Coach Gruden from the Buccaneers, and he said we want to draft you,” Hayward recounted. “He said they where excited about drafting me and wanted to know if I was excited to be heading to the NFL.”

His answer was obvious.

“From the first time I went out there and had a workout, I knew I wanted to play there,” Hayward said. “I was really enjoying myself and really liked what Tampa had to offer.”

Hayward’s accolades and skills drew many onlookers during his final season as a Viking. The 6-foot, 235-pound senior from Westminster, Calif., was a first team All-American, received the Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 2006 and was a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, given to the top defensive player in 1-AA football (he finished fourth).

In the months leading up to the draft, Hayward opened scouts eyes by running his 40-yard dash in 4.5 seconds. He ended up having workouts with Seattle, Green Bay, New York (Giants) and Tampa Bay. The Buc’s ended up being by far the best fit for the speedy, hard-hitting linebacker. Hayward was most excited about getting to learn under Tampa Bay stars like Derrick Brooks, the newly acquired Cato June and defensive coordinator/linebacker guru Monte Kiffen.

“I think I fit in extremely well. I’m a Cover-2 type linebacker and that is exactly what they run,” Hayward said. “It’s gonna be a good situation for me. When it’s my time, I’ll have learned from the best, so I will be able to play with the best.”

Hayward leaves Portland Wednesday to follow his dreams and start his career as a Tampa Bay Buccaneer.

Notes: The last Viking to be drafted into the NFL was wide receiver Terry Charles who was taken in the fifth round, 142nd overall. The only current Viking on an NFL roster is the Green Bay Packer’s wide receiver Shaun Bodiford, who played for PSU in 2004 and 2005. Bodiford went as an undrafted free agent in 2006.