Iowa State’s offseason buzz has centered on quarterback Jaylen Raynor, and for good reason. He looks like the kind of player who can anchor the program for the next two seasons. But the other side of that equation matters just as much: who is going to catch the ball?
The answer, at least on paper, is Omari Hayes.
Hayes arrives in Ames after two productive stops in the Group of Five. As a freshman at Florida Atlantic, he put up 590 yards and three touchdowns.
He then moved to Tulane and added 515 yards and a score during a season that ended with the Green Wave in the College Football Playoff. In that playoff game, Hayes finished with four catches for 52 yards.
Now he gets his first shot at a power conference program, and Iowa State has every reason to think he can be more than just another name in the receiver room.
What makes Hayes stand out is how complete he already looks. He brings big-game production, he can win with flashy grabs, and he feels like one of the least developmental players on the roster. When Tulane needed him on the biggest stage, he showed up, including against Ole Miss in the College Football Playoff.
That kind of profile matters. At the Group of Five level, chances to prove yourself against power competition don’t come around often, but Hayes made the most of the opportunities he got. He also brings the kind of hands and athleticism that show up on the tape in a hurry, the sort of traits that translate into difficult catches and momentum-swinging plays.
The one area that stands out as a concern is his scoring output. Hayes found the end zone three times in his first year at Florida Atlantic, but only once across the full season at Tulane.
That means he may not be the same kind of touchdown threat as Cody Jackson, who is projected to be the WR2. Even so, Hayes still needs to find a way to finish more drives.
For Iowa State, though, the bigger picture is clear. Hayes looks like a key piece of this offense, a receiver with very few obvious flaws and enough playmaking ability to change games.
He is not just another target for Raynor. He has a chance to be one of the players who helps push the Cyclones forward.
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