Lion-hearted linebacker

Portland State football star Adam Hayward stands a good chance of being selected in the NFL draft this summer. He received many accolades this year including Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year, first-team All-American linebacker, team MVP and fourth place in the 2006 Buck Buchanan voting (best defender in Division I-AA).

However, after losing his mother at the start of his junior season, the talented linebacker almost gave up on football completely.

Hayward grew up outside of Los Angeles in sunny southern California, a long way from the overcast skies and drizzle of the Pacific Northwest.

At a young age Hayward’s parents, who each took on two jobs to support the family, began to instill a steady work ethic in him.

“My mom was always on me to get my school work done,” Hayward said, remembering the times when he did not give his all in the classroom.

Hayward’s mother made college a top priority. She paid for tutoring to help him get into a good school.

When the time came, Colorado State promised Hayward a full ride if he could score high enough on his SATs, and eventually all the tutoring paid off. He was headed to Colorado to play college football as a defensive back/special teamer.

After two seasons spent playing minimally for the Rams, Hayward’s life would be shattered. His mother, who had previously been diagnosed with breast cancer, was fighting for her life again.

This time, the cancer had spread throughout her body and there was nothing the doctors could do. Hayward’s mother and number-one fan passed away as his junior year in college was just beginning.

A devastated Hayward decided to give up playing football. He continued going to school, but his weekends turned into trips back home instead of trips around the country to play in big games.

“I had no mental capacity for football,” said Hayward. “My head wasn’t in it.”

Hayward mourned the entire season, trying to clear his head. After a lot of soul searching, he decided that he should return to football because it was what his mother would want him to do.

“She knew I was going to make it,” said Hayward. “Why not continue playing?”

Hayward started talking to his coaches and asked to come back, however they were hesitant to let him return. Hayward suspected that he had been replaced and asked for his release from the program.

Hayward began to shop his tape around the Big Sky Conference, and settled on two schools: Idaho State and Portland State University.

Idaho State had heard negative things about Hayward’s attitude and was wary to sign him. He visited Portland State and fell in love with the university.

“The coaches at Colorado said his only character flaw was how he dealt with his mom’s death, but how would you have dealt with it?” said head football coach Tim Walsh. “The recommendation we got was that he just needed a fresh start.”

Walsh offered Hayward a scholarship, even though Hayward would have to appeal to the NCAA to regain his junior year of eligibility.

“As soon as I was here, I felt this was the place I should be,” said Hayward. “I just started playing and I said, ‘This is what I need to do again.'”

Hayward, who came into the system late, would have to learn a new defense as well as a new position, but it did not bother him. He immediately hit it off with everyone. Hayward was happy to be back on the field and thought to himself, “Go out and have fun, and let the rest fall into place.”

The rest fell into place in a big way. Hayward led a steadfast PSU defense that forced the most turnovers and ranked third in the Big Sky conference. Hayward himself would tally 104 tackles, 9.5 sacks, 16.5 tackles for a loss, three forced fumbles and seven pass break-ups.

Now Hayward has finished his impressive senior season, is awaiting graduation and has declared for the NFL draft.

“I think I’m good at it, so why not try to play at the next level,” said Hayward.

Hayward has been working with a personal trainer, lifting and conditioning six days a week for 3-4 hours a day. Scouts, friends in the NFL, and his agent have all told him what he needs to work on to be ready for the next level.

“He is a playmaker and he can really be a role player early on at the NFL level. The NFL is looking for guys that can run and he can run,” said Walsh. “If people get over his height and give him a chance, he will be great.”

So what are his chances and where will he fall? Hayward said that the last he heard, he could go as high as the third round, but he refuses to put any stock into that.

“Everything is talk, so I’m putting it on hold,” said Hayward. “Anything can change.”

Pro Day, a mini-combine for NFL scouts to watch college players perform, is in late March, but he said his agent takes care of all the details, and his job is to stay prepared.

“He is a leader, he is a worker, he is everything you want in a football player. He is going to be a difficult guy to replace,” said Walsh.