Hayden hopes to return to Mr. Football Awards
The Mr. Football Awards banquet last week was a showcase for rising talent in the state of Tennessee as over a dozen players either committed to SEC schools or having offers from SEC schools took the stage.
One such player, and one of the youngest, is Germantown running back and vol legacy Chase Hayden. Although just a sophomore, Hayden turned in a big season for St. George's in Div. 2, Class A with 1,715 yards and 20 touchdowns that earned him a spot on the state.
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"It feels really good and it feels like all of the hard work paid off to be up there as a finalist," Hayden said.
Being one of just two sophomores on the stage this weekend, along with fellow 2017 standout Trey Smith, Hayden said being included with so many top-notch players makes him want to earn his way back.
"It makes me want to work harder and so next year I'll be up there again and maybe I'll win the award," Hayden said.
The 5-foot-11, 170-pound all-purpose back ran for over 1,700 yards this season and had 20 rushing touchdowns. The son of former Vol Aaron Hayden, he noted his new offer from the Vols also wants him to keep up the hard work.
"It just makes me want to work even harder. It shows that if you work hard good things happen and they did for me," he said.
With the first offer coming from his father's alma mater and the school he grew up cheering for, Hayden noted it was an exciting day.
"It was fun and exciting to receive that first offer. I was always wondering when that first one would come and I kept working and it did," Hayden said.