On The Hill: Set to compete for a starting job in the Hilltopper backfield in 2009...Second on the depth chart at the running back position, while earning the Romeo Crennel Leadership Award at the conclusion of spring drills...Had six carries for 38 yards in the annual spring game... 2008: Played in all 12 games, including five starts...Led the team with 388 yards rushing on 92 carries...Averaged 4.2 yards per carry and scored three touchdowns on the ground...Fourth on the team with 478 all-purpose yards, which included 78 yards on five kick returns...Led the team with 98 yards rushing on a career-high 26 carries and one touchdown in a week two win at Eastern Kentucky...Carried the ball 10 times for 84 yards and one touchdown against Florida Atlantic...Had a long run of 64 yards and averaged 8.4 yards per carry in that game...Had a season-best 117 yards rushing on 17 carries against North Texas...Collected a long run of 32 yards and averaged 6.9 yards per carry...Had six carries for 26 yards in the home finale against Middle Tennessee... 2007: Selected first-team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District IV ... Started every game but one, finishing with a team-best 1,134 yards and 10 touchdowns on 205 carries — he ended the year ranked ninth on the school’s season record list for yards on the ground ... Ended the campaign second on the squad with 1,156 all-purpose yards and 60 points ... Recorded four 100-yard games while leading the team on the ground on nine occasions ... Rushed for 80 yards and two scores in home-opening victory over West Virginia Tech ... Carried 23 times for 144 yards and a touchdown in Middle Tennessee win ... Posted 121 yards and a score on 18 attempts the following week at Bowling Green ... Rushed for team-high 91 yards at Ball State ... Collected 68 yards and a touchdown on 11 rushes in win at Indiana State ... Carried 10 times for 88 yards and two scores in victory over North Carolina Central ... Recorded 149 yards rushing and a career-high 159 all-purpose yards in win at Chattanooga ... Ran for a career-best 151 yards and a touchdown on just 16 attempts in Senior Day victory over Morehead State ... Ended the year with a 19-carry, 97-yard performance at North Texas, scoring one touchdown ... 2006: A member of the Gateway Football Conference Academic Honor Roll ... Appeared in all 11 contests, making his first career start in victory at Missouri State ... Ranked third on the team with 315 yards rushing and two touchdowns on the ground ... Averaged 4.9 yards per carry ... Also caught two passes for 17 yards to finish with 332 all-purpose yards ... Led WKU in his collegiate debut after gaining 45 yards on 10 attempts at I-A Georgia ... Ran for a team-high 84 yards and his first career score on 15 carries in victory over Chattanooga ... Collected 80 yards on 17 attempts and added a 13-yard catch in MSU win ... Rushed 11 times for 83 yards and a touchdown in Homecoming victory over Indiana State.

HS/Misc: Was a four-year starter and letterwinner at Lexington Christian Academy ... LCA advanced to the state playoffs in each of his final three seasons while compiling a 27-8 overall mark — 16-2 in district play — during that span ... Finished his career with over 4,500 yards rushing and 80 touchdowns ... Named honorable mention all-state by the Louisville Courier-Journal, first-team all-district and all-city as well as the district player of the year last fall ... Ranked among the top 15 in the Commonwealth with 141.6 yards per game and 23 touchdowns in the regular season ... Efforts helped the Eagles advance to the quarterfinals of the state A playoffs while posting an 11-2 final mark, which included a perfect 6-0 record in district action ... As a junior, earned all-district and all-city accolades while being selected the team’s most valuable player ... Also earned four letters in track, qualifying for the state meet in the 100-meter dash and long jump, and as part of LCA’s 4x100-meter and 4x200-meter relay teams in the spring ... Participated in the state championships in the 100-meter dash his junior season ... Lettered twice in basketball as well.

The Hayden File: Full Name — Tyrell William Hayden;  Parents — Lance and Monique Hayden (father, construction worker;  mother, courthouse employee);  Birth — Jan. 3, 1988, Mt. Sterling, Ky.;  HS — Lexington Christian Academy ’06;  HS Coach — Paul Rains (Cumberland [Ky.]);  HS Letters — football 4, track 4, basketball 2;  Major — management;  Hobbies — movies.