Each Monday during the 2025 Texas A&M football season, we’ll identify a first or second-year Aggie player who delivered an exceptional performance over the weekend and earned the distinction of being the week’s “Overnight Sensation.”
A Maroon haze consumed DJ Lagway's pocket all night.
And on a crucial possession for the Gators, it was A&M's Dayon Hayes.
In Texas A&M's 34-17 win over Florida, Hayes' fourth-quarter strip sack helped seal the deal on a successful Saturday night.
"I challenged the guys at halftime on defense to go out and get us two turnovers," A&M head coach Mike Elko said. "I said, two turnovers will win us the game in the second half, and we were able to go out there and cause two fumbles and recover them both. I think that's the next step for us on defense, and that was huge, I thought."
Hayes' timely turnover followed up a masterful offensive march.
In the final frame, Marcel Reed & Co. executed a clock-eating drive, running the ball on 11 of 12 plays to drain eight minutes before punching it in to take a 31-17 lead.
The Gators needed success on their next drive to have any hope of mounting a comeback.
With 4:39 to go, Florida's must-have-it drive began on the 25-yard line. On first down, Lagway dropped back, only to be met with a surprise coming from behind.
Hayes disrupted Lagway's throwing motion, forcing the ball out. The Colorado transfer jumped on it soon after, securing the fumble.
The game-clinching play destroyed any chance of a response from the Gators.
A year ago in Boulder, Hayes posted 16 tackles, 3.5 TFLs and two sacks in an injury-shortened season, only playing four games.
Through Week 7, his efficiency is only increasing.
Among edges who played at least 25 snaps in Week 7, Hayes ranks second in the FBS with a 92.3 pressure grade. He also possesses a 91.1 defensive grade, which ranks fourth nationally among defensive ends with 25-plus snaps last week.
Hayes & Co. have been suffocating as of late on defense, holding its SEC opponents to a six percent conversion rate on third down (2-for-33).
Between Hayes and Cashius Howell on the ends, Albert Regis on the interior or Daymion Sanford coming from the second level, Lagway felt consistent pressure. The Aggie defense totaled three sacks, six tackles for loss, five quarterback hurries and three forced fumbles.
“I love them," Regis said of the group of transfer defensive linemen. "They bring energy. They bring juice. They can play ball, and they're great guys to hang out with.
"Man, Dayon is Dayon. That's the best thing I can say. He's one-of-one. Everybody got that one friend they know that's just like, ain't nobody like you, and that's Dayon."
With three pressures on just 29 snaps on Saturday, Hayes' production only looks to increase as his reps do.
Hayes’ stats vs. Florida
Tackles: 2
Solo Tackles: 1
Sacks: 1
TFLs: 1
FF: 1
FR: 1
Hayes’ 2025 stats
Tackles: 11
Solo Tackles: 8
Sacks: 2.0
TFLs: 2.5
FF: 1
FR: 1
