Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1472993
1 0 4 A U G U S T 2 0 2 2 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M Y azeed Haynes put on a show at Penn State's annual Whiteout Camp in June, running a 4.39-sec- ond 40-yard dash and a 4.2-second shuttle while also turning in a 10-foot, 10-inch broad jump. It was everything a big-time Divi- sion I football program could ask for from a 6-1, 170-pound athlete, and Penn State's coaching staff wasted little time getting the North Penn (Pa.) High standout back on campus in early June. A three-star prospect in the On3 Consensus and the No. 26 player in Pennsylvania, Haynes was planning at the time to see a few more schools and then decide in July. That's no longer the case. On June 12, he ended his recruitment by announc- ing for the Nittany Lions. "I came back for my visit, and it just felt like home there," he said. "Every- one was just so family oriented. I loved the coaches, the players and everything about the school. Even when I was younger, Penn State was always a school I wanted to go to. So, coming up here was just the icing on the cake. I liked everything about it." Haynes worked out as a wide receiver during the Whiteout Camp, but he said afterward that Penn State's coaching staff felt he could play on either side of the ball. He met with receivers coach Taylor Stubblefield and cornerbacks coach Terry Smith to discuss his options. "It surprised me a bit, but they're down to give me the opportunity to play offense or defense," he said. "So, I met with Coach Stubbs, of course. He went over some of my film from camp and just talked to me about being a wide receiver and how he can develop me. I met with Coach Terry after that, and it was the same thing. He showed me how good I could be at DB." Haynes said he's most comfortable at wideout because that's where he's played at North Penn. But even though he's yet to see action at cornerback, he's open to playing defense at the college level. "Whatever helps me succeed and helps the team [is best]," he said. "There really isn't a preference for me." Haynes was previously committed to Rutgers before opening up his recruit- ment during the spring. He was plan- ning to camp at both Georgia and Ten- nessee, while Minnesota had an official visit scheduled for late June. ■ Speedy Athlete Could Find Home On Offense Or Defense RYA N S N Y D E R | R YA N. S N Y D E R @ O N 3 . C O M COMMITMENT PROFILE YAZEED HAYNES Haynes is a three-star prospect in the On3 Consensus and the No. 26 player in Pennsylvania. COURTESY HAYNES FAMILY Did Penn State land a hidden gem in three-star receiver Yazeed Haynes? It's hard to say because there are no full game films available to scout. That means his evaluation, while filled with the most accurate information we have, is incomplete. There's a reason Haynes is a sleeper prospect. STRENGTHS Athletic testing: If you follow recruiting, you'll know that Haynes blew up the Whiteout Camp with NFL-level testing numbers in critical areas. His blazing 4.39-second 40-yard dash would have been enough to get him an offer and serious attention, but his 10-foot, 10-inch broad jump put him over the top. The broad jump measures explosiveness. Haynes' performance would have tied for sixth at the NFL Combine this past spring. When you look at his testing numbers and his film, it's clear that he is every type of fast. Deep speed: Haynes is a certified deep threat who doesn't ever seem to stop accelerating during his route. His ability to burst past players while 15 yards downfield stands out. Frame: Not every 6-1 frame is the same. Haynes has long arms and decent thickness. While he may not end up playing close to 200 pounds, he can add the necessary muscle mass to play strong at the catch point. AREAS OF DEVELOPMENT Routes: There's enough evidence on film that he's a good route runner, but the threat of his speed makes it easier for him to generate separation. It's clear that his reputation preceded him, given the amount of cushion he got on plays. There's positive evidence, but not enough to know if he's a complete route runner. Hands and instincts: While it's important not to overstate one afternoon's work, there were some troubling signs from his day at the Whiteout Camp. It wasn't just that Haynes had bad drops; he seemed to fight the ball at times. Despite passes hitting him in the hands and his hands being in position, his timing was off. PROJECTION Wide receiver: Haynes looks as though he could play inside or outside the formation. His film is littered with examples of both. Cornerback: If his hands are an issue, cornerback would be a good fit. He's a fluid athlete, so he shouldn't have a problem turning and running with receivers. In this instance, he is a boundary corner only. — Thomas Frank Carr P L A Y E R E V A L U A T I O N