Maize High graduate Bryson Hayes returned a kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown Saturday, Oct. 17, as Kansas fell to Kansas State 35-24 in Manhattan.

No Wildcat caught him. The 6-foot, 190-pound redshirt freshman fielded the kick at the 5-yard line with KU trailing 7-0 and raced down the sideline to tie the game just 1 minute and 56 seconds into the contest at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.

The play made program history. But what Hayes said two days later may matter more to Wichita.

Appearing on coach Lance Leipold's Hawk Talk radio show Monday, Oct. 19, Hayes credited Wichita personal trainer Rashad Daniels with inspiring his post-career goal: opening a sports training facility in his hometown. He wants to give young athletes a place to chase their dreams, he told host Brian Hanni, according to the Wichita Eagle.

"I want to open up a sports facility center in Wichita and just allow kids to pursue their dreams any way they can," Hayes said.

Speed built at Maize

Hayes was a track sprinter at Maize High. He placed third in the 100 meters with a wind-aided 10.6 seconds at the state meet as a senior and ran on Maize's third-place 400-meter relay. He clocked a 4.36-second 40-yard dash at the Polynesian Bowl combine, and film breakdowns have timed him as fast as 21.3 mph.

He finished his high school career with more than 2,000 receiving yards and 23 touchdowns before choosing Kansas over Iowa State, Nebraska, Kansas State and Tulsa. He flipped his commitment from Nebraska to KU in November 2024, according to the Eagle.

A record return

The 95-yard score was KU's longest kickoff return for a touchdown since Kenny Logan Jr.'s 100-yard return against Iowa State in 2020, according to the Eagle. It was the longest kickoff return for a score against Kansas State in KU history and the Jayhawks' first kickoff return touchdown since Emmanuel Henderson Jr.'s 94-yard score against West Virginia last season.

Leipold said Hayes has taken over as KU's kick returner after Dylan Edwards was moved off the role. He called Hayes a prime example of second-year development and said the return gave the Jayhawks the early jolt they needed.

"He's done a fine job. That (95-yarder) was the spark we needed," Leipold said.

Hayes has seen limited offensive action this season, with three catches for 50 yards against Middle Tennessee, two for 56 yards against Long Island and one rush for 7 yards against K-State. Kansas dropped to 2-4 overall and 0-3 in the Big 12 with the loss.

Kansas hosts Baylor at noon Saturday, Oct. 24, at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium in Lawrence.