:en:Mercury Hayes

File:2008-1226-Pasadena-008-RoseBowl.jpg]]

After attending Booker T. Washington High School in Houston, Hayes, son of Richard Hayes, was recruited by several college football programs. He selected the University of Michigan over several elite football programs, including the Colorado Buffaloes, Florida State Seminoles, Arkansas Razorbacks, and USC Trojans. During Hayes' Michigan Wolverines career, the team's best finish was as 1992 Big Ten Conference Champions, when coached by Gary Moeller. During that year, the team finished ranked fifth nationally in both the Associated Press college football final poll and the CNN/USA Today college football final poll, and the team beat the Washington Huskies 38–31 in the January 1, 1993 Rose Bowl in a game that is memorable for Tyrone Wheatley's MVP performance.{{cite web|url=https://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/bowls/1993rose.htm|title=Michigan's Bowl Game History: 1993 Rose Bowl|publisher=The Regents of the University of Michigan|access-date=December 31, 2007|date=April 10, 2006|work=Bentley Historical Library|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080105151436/http://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/bowls/1993rose.htm|archive-date=January 5, 2008|url-status=dead}} Hayes had a 10-yard reception during the game.{{cite web|url=http://stats.ath.umich.edu/football/gametot.php?gkey=468 |title=Versus Washington January 1, 1993 |publisher=Regents of the University of Michigan |year=2003 |access-date=December 31, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050507230011/http://stats.ath.umich.edu/football/gametot.php?gkey=468 |archive-date=May 7, 2005 }}

Hayes' 179-yard performance against the Virginia Cavaliers was the 1995 single-game high by any of the Wolverines wide receivers, tight ends and running backs, which included Amani Toomer, Jay Riemersma, Chris Howard, Jerame Tuman, Tshimanga Biakabutuka, Tai Streets and Chris Floyd. The effort tied Jack Clancy's 1966 single-game total and Amani Toomer's 1994 single-game total for fourth on the Michigan all-time single game reception yards list.{{cite web|url=http://stats.ath.umich.edu/football/gametot.php?gkey=158 |title=Versus Illinois November 5, 1966 |access-date=December 1, 2007 |year=2003 |publisher=Regents of the University of Michigan |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050526192337/http://stats.ath.umich.edu/football/gametot.php?gkey=158 |archive-date=May 26, 2005 }}{{cite web|url=http://stats.ath.umich.edu/football/gametot.php?gkey=481 |title=Versus Boston College September 3, 1994 |access-date=December 1, 2007 |year=2003 |publisher=Regents of the University of Michigan |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050502210431/http://stats.ath.umich.edu/football/gametot.php?gkey=481 |archive-date=May 2, 2005 }} It is worth noting that Clancy is the Michigan all-time single-game yardage recordholder at 197 yards. Braylon Edwards and Tai Streets have since surpassed 179 yards, in 2004 and 1998 respectively, to move the trio down to sixth.{{cite web|url=http://stats.ath.umich.edu/football/gametot.php?gkey=615 |title=Versus Michigan State October 30, 2004 |access-date=December 1, 2007 |year=2003 |publisher=Regents of the University of Michigan |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090307044442/http://stats.ath.umich.edu/football/gametot.php?gkey=615 |archive-date=March 7, 2009 }}{{cite web|url=http://stats.ath.umich.edu/football/gametot.php?gkey=536 |title=Versus Minnesota October 31, 1998 |access-date=December 1, 2007 |year=2003 |publisher=Regents of the University of Michigan |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050428034543/http://stats.ath.umich.edu/football/gametot.php?gkey=536 |archive-date=April 28, 2005 }} Hayes' 48 receptions and 923 yards also led all Wolverines in receiving for the 1995 season. At the end of his Michigan career, Hayes' 923 yards ranked sixth on the single-season yardage list, but it is now fifteenth. His 2144 career yards ranked fifth and now ranks eleventh. The quarterbacks during his 1995 season were Brian Griese and Scott Dreisbach. Other quarterbacks during his collegiate career were Todd Collins and Elvis Grbac.

In 1995, Hayes established the Michigan football record for most consecutive games with a reception by stringing together thirty such games. His record was broken by Marquise Walker's 32 games in 2001 and later surpassed by Braylon Edwards's 38 games and Jason Avant's 35 games. Hayes ranks tenth in career yards per reception at 17.3 and eleventh in career all-purpose yards. He is listed prominently among Michigan's all-time leaders in kickoff returns and yards as well as total returns (kickoff, punt, fumble and interception) and return yards.

Amani Toomer and Hayes were the fourth pair of Michigan receivers to have played together with 2000 career reception yards. With 2,144 career yards and 124 receptions he ranks 10th and 12th on the All-time Michigan lists 2 yards behind Desmond Howard and 1 reception behind Derrick Alexander respectively.{{cite web|url=http://stats.ath.umich.edu/football/footstart.php |access-date=October 22, 2007 |publisher=Regents of the University of Michigan |title=M Go Blue - University of Michigan Athletics Official Site |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071112175906/http://stats.ath.umich.edu/football/footstart.php |archive-date=November 12, 2007 }}

Hayes, who wore #9 for the Michigan Wolverines from 1992 to 1995,{{cite web|url=http://141.211.39.65/allroster/fbsearch.htm |access-date=November 4, 2007 |date=August 25, 2003 |title=Bentley Historical Library -- -- U of M Football Rosters |publisher=The Regents of the University of Michigan |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928200732/http://141.211.39.65/allroster/fbsearch.htm |archive-date=September 28, 2007 }} was recruited by University of Colorado, Florida State University, University of Arkansas, and University of Southern California. The University of Colorado was so interested in having him in the 1992 incoming class with Koy Detmer and Rashaan Salaam that they reserved their 25th scholarship for him, hoping he would change his mind after having committed to Michigan.{{cite web|url=http://groups.google.com/group/rec.sport.football.college/tree/browse_frm/month/1992-02/f2dc3d452e6f16e7?rnum=171&_done=%2Fgroup%2Frec.sport.football.college%2Fbrowse_frm%2Fmonth%2F1992-02%3F|title=Mercury Hayes commits to Michigan/Colorado recruiting summary|access-date=October 23, 2007|date=February 11, 1992}}

In the September 24, 1994 Miracle at Michigan, #7-ranked Colorado, with former Michigan coaching staff member Bill McCartney as their coach, exacted their revenge on #4-ranked Michigan. Kordell Stewart completed a 64-yard hail mary pass to Detroit native Michael Westbrook against Ty Law and Chuck Winters as time expired to complete a miracle 27–26 comeback.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/columns/story?columnist=maisel_ivan&id=2896389|access-date=October 23, 2007|date=June 11, 2007|title=Stewart to Westbrook silenced Big House crowd|author=Maisel, Ivan|publisher=ESPN Internet Ventures}} In the game, Hayes had 3 receptions for 62 yards as well as a run for 14 yards. He also returned 3 kickoffs for 54 yards. The ending of this game has been described as one of the two wildest finishes in University of Michigan Football history.

Hayes is notable for his 7-reception 179-yard performance culminating in a game-winning, fourth down, time expired 15-yard touchdown catch on August 26, 1995, from Scott Dreisbach to seal an 18–17 win in Michigan's greatest comeback,{{cite web|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=990CEFDE1F3BF934A1575BC0A963958260|title= COLLEGE FOOTBALL; Michigan Finds Miracle of Its Own to Overcome Virginia|access-date=November 18, 2007|date=August 27, 1995|work=The New York Times}}{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/scores95/95238/95238354.htm|title=Virginia vs. Michigan|access-date=July 22, 2010|date=August 26, 1995|work=USA Today}} a record that stood for eight years until 2003, when the Wolverines pulled off a 21-point comeback against Minnesota.{{cite web|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9805E3DB123FF932A25753C1A9659C8B63|title=COLLEGE FOOTBALL; Navarre Brings Michigan All the Way Back |access-date=December 14, 2008|date=October 11, 2003|work=The New York Times|author=LaPointe, Joe}} The reception was recorded against University of Virginia Cavaliers defensive backs Ronde Barber and Paul London in the Pigskin Classic to complete what was at the time the largest comeback in Michigan Football history in Lloyd Carr's coaching debut.{{cite web|url=http://stats.ath.umich.edu/football/gametot.php?gkey=505 |access-date=October 22, 2007 |publisher=Regents of the University of Michigan |year=2003 |title=Versus Virginia August 26, 1995 (box score) |work=M Go Blue |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050503042816/http://stats.ath.umich.edu/football/gametot.php?gkey=505 |archive-date=May 3, 2005 }} The game constituted the other of the two wildest finishes in Michigan Football history.{{cite book | last = Jones | first = Todd | editor= MacCambridge, Michael | title = ESPN Big Ten College Football Encyclopedia |chapter=Michigan | publisher = ESPN Enterprises | year = 2007 | isbn = 978-1-933060-49-1 |pages=62 }}

Hayes is notable as one of the victims of Beaver Stadium attendees' ice and snowball hurling on November 18, 1995.{{cite web|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9904E3DF1339F93AA25752C1A963958260|title= FOOTBALL;Lions Win With Trick And Snowplow Offense|access-date=November 18, 2007|date=November 19, 1995|author=Longman, Jere|publisher=The New York Times Company}} In the game, Hayes caught 6 receptions for 132 yards and had 3 kickoff returns for 48 yards. The game ended as a 27–17 loss to the Penn State Nittany Lions.{{cite web|url=http://stats.ath.umich.edu/football/gametot.php?gkey=502 |title=Versus Penn State November 18, 1995 |publisher=Regents of the University of Michigan |access-date=November 18, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050503042906/http://stats.ath.umich.edu/football/gametot.php?gkey=502 |archive-date=May 3, 2005 }}

Hayes also had season highs in reception yards as a freshman and sophomore against his hometown Houston Cougars football team. As a sophomore, he totalled 127 yards on six receptions; three punt returns for 38 yards; and two kickoff returns for 54 yards in a 42–21 win on September 25, 1993.{{cite web|url=http://stats.ath.umich.edu/football/gametot.php?gkey=469 |title=Versus Houston September 25, 1993 |publisher=Regents of the University of Michigan |access-date=January 25, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050826111909/http://stats.ath.umich.edu/football/gametot.php?gkey=469 |archive-date=August 26, 2005 }} The game included Hayes' longest punt return as a Wolverine (26 yards) and represented Hayes career high in all-purpose yards. The game was also Hayes' third highest receiving yards total and the highest total he would have until his senior season. The freshman game, Michigan's third of the season, marked Hayes' debut as a kickoff returner.

The 1996 NFL draft was a quality draft for wide receivers. Among the wide receivers drafted that year were first rounders Keyshawn Johnson, Terry Glenn, Eddie Kennison, Marvin Harrison and Eric Moulds. Additionally, Bobby Engram, Terrell Owens, Muhsin Muhammad, Joe Horn and former Michigan teammate Amani Toomer were also drafted that year. Hayes was the first of three 1996 fifth round picks by the Saints.{{cite web|url=http://www.neworleansprofootball.com/drafthistory.html|access-date=October 23, 2007|title=Draft Pick History|publisher=NewOrleansProFootball.com |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071017041359/http://neworleansprofootball.com/drafthistory.html |archive-date = October 17, 2007}} He was drafted just after Pro Bowl wide receiver Joe Horn, the 135th pick.{{Cite web |title=1996 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1996/draft.htm |access-date=2023-03-30 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}{{cite web|url=http://football.about.com/od/nflplayerprofiles/p/joehorn.htm|publisher=About, Inc.|title=Joe Horn|author=Alder, James|access-date=October 22, 2007|archive-date=March 1, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100301045955/http://football.about.com/od/nflplayerprofiles/p/joehorn.htm|url-status=dead}} Mercury Hayes' NFL career longest reception of 50 yards, caught in week 14 of the 1996 National Football League season in a 26–10 loss to the St. Louis Rams, was the first NFL pass by Doug Nussmeier (Nussmeier's second pass was his only touchdown completion).{{cite web|url=http://www.io.com/~serpas/SAINTS/Summary/96/ram1.txt |access-date=October 23, 2007 |title=Saints 10 Rams 26 Summary |author=Serpas, Frank III |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050217045823/http://www.io.com/~serpas/SAINTS/Summary/96/ram1.txt |archive-date=February 17, 2005 }} Although Hayes only compiled 4 receptions for 101 yards; 2 rushes for 7 yards and 2 kickoff returns for 30 yards while appearing in 7 games, he earned nearly $39,000 in bonus money over the course of his rookie season.{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/sfn/sfnnfc.htm|access-date=October 22, 2007|date=May 22, 1997|publisher=USAToday|title=NFC salaries}} Hayes started the 1997 National Football League season on the New Orleans Saints' roster and appeared in 4 games.{{cite web|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/news/1997/09/18/news.nordepth.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604143232/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/news/1997/09/18/news.nordepth.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 4, 2011|access-date=October 22, 2007|publisher=CNN/SI|title=1997 New Orleans Saints|date=September 18, 1997}}

Hayes signed with the Atlanta Falcons on October 27, 1997, and appeared in two games for the Falcons.{{cite web|url=http://static.espn.go.com/nfl/profiles/profile/20004.html|access-date=October 22, 2007|year=1999|publisher=ESPN Internet Ventures|title=Mercury Hayes}} He was released by the Falcons in the pre-season of the following year. Hayes was picked up on September 18, 1998, by the Washington Redskins and added to their practice squad, but was released 19 days later.{{cite web|url=http://www.alumniatlas.com/players/nflplayerpage.htm?ilkid=429 |publisher=AlumniAtlas.com |title=Mercury Hayes |access-date=October 22, 2007 }}{{dead link|date=June 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} In February 1999, he was drafted by the Barcelona Dragons,{{cite web|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:SLTB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=100EF303FB29FFE1&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB579A3BDA420|title=NFL Europe Draft List|access-date=December 6, 2008|date=February 24, 1999|publisher=Newsbank|work=The Salt Lake Tribune}} but he was released from the team five weeks later.{{cite web|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CIZB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=100F8A3B41FDAC0B&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB579A3BDA420|title=Monday's Sports Transactions|access-date=December 6, 2008|date=March 30, 1999|publisher=Newsbank|work=Charleston Gazette}}

Mercury Hayes was signed by the Montreal Alouettes in June 1999.{{cite web|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C03E2D8163BF934A25755C0A96F958260|title=Transactions|access-date=November 18, 2007|date=June 17, 1999|publisher=The New York Times Company}} They released him in July and re-signed him in August.{{cite web|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:SLTB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=100EF12EF7A0E4EA&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB579A3BDA420|title=Transactions|access-date=December 6, 2008|date=July 3, 1999|publisher=Newsbank|work=The Salt Lake Tribune}}{{cite web|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:OCRB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EAF4255DB8456CE&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB579A3BDA420|title=Transactions|access-date=December 6, 2008|date=August 31, 1999|publisher=Newsbank|work=The Orange County Register}} His 2000 season began productively with an impressive pre-season effort (including 67 and 77-yard touchdown runs in the same quarter of one game){{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hayes-rallies-als-past-ticats-1.253684|title=Hayes rallies Als past Ticats|access-date=November 19, 2007|date=June 27, 2000 |publisher=CBC 2007}} followed by effective 65-yard and 68-yard regular season reception totals in early August.{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Football00Games/aug3_mtl_ssk.html |title=ALOUETTES 62, Roughriders 7: Riders winless in 14 games |date=August 3, 2000 |access-date=November 19, 2007 |publisher=Canoe Inc. |work=Slam Sports CFL Football |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://archive.today/20020922214723/http://slam.canoe.ca/Football00Games/aug3_mtl_ssk.html |archive-date=September 22, 2002 }}{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Football00Games/aug3_mtl_ssk.html |title=ESKIMOS 29, Alouettes 7: Esks end Als undefeated season |date=August 11, 2000 |access-date=November 19, 2007 |publisher=Canoe Inc. |work=Slam Sports CFL Football |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://archive.today/20020922214723/http://slam.canoe.ca/Football00Games/aug3_mtl_ssk.html |archive-date=September 22, 2002 }} However, by the end of August, Hayes was on the sidelines nursing an injury.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/als-hand-stamps-first-loss-of-the-season-1.198610|title=Als hand Stamps first loss of the season|access-date=November 19, 2007|date= November 10, 2000|publisher=CBC|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025183618/https://www.cbc.ca/sports/story/2000/08/25/als000825.html|archive-date=October 25, 2012}} He failed to accumulate 259 yards receiving on the season, which would have placed him among the top 15 Canadian Football League receivers in yardage for the 2000 Canadian Football League season.{{cite web|url=http://en.montrealalouettes.com/index.php?module=fbstats&func=receiving&year=2000 |title=2000 Receiving Statistics |access-date=November 19, 2007 |publisher=Montreal Alouettes Football Club |year=2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714114137/http://en.montrealalouettes.com/index.php?module=fbstats&func=receiving&year=2000 |archive-date=July 14, 2011 }} In September, he was released from the team.{{cite web|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:SLTB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=100E9967D144A506&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB579A3BDA420|title=Transactions|access-date=December 6, 2008|date=September 8, 2000|publisher=Newsbank|work=The Salt Lake Tribune}} In 2002, he attempted a comeback with the Norfolk Nighthawks of the af2,{{cite web|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=VP&p_theme=vp&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0F2BAC2BA4D9F799&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|title= NIGHTHAWKS REPORT|access-date=January 25, 2008|publisher=NewsLibrary.com|work=The Virginian-Pilot|date=April 4, 2002}} and this was his last attempt at professional football.

{{Portal|Texas}}

• Lists of Michigan Wolverines football receiving leaders

{{Reflist}}

• {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070828052609/http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=HAYESMER01 Mercury Hayes' Statistics]}} at [http://www.databasesports.com/ Databasesports]

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Category:1973 births

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