Rams' Williams Hayes Selected To Play In Collegiate Football All-Star Game :: Star defensive end to showcase his talents on the national scene

Jan. 9, 2008

WINSTON-SALEM, NC - Winston-Salem State University defensive end William Hayes has been invited to play in the Texas vs. The Nation All-Star Game in El Paso, Texas on February 2, 2008 at 6:00 pm at the Sun Bowl.

The Texas vs. The Nation Game is a post-season college football all-star game that was established in 2006 as part of the 2006 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The format of the game pits a team of top-rated college seniors who played college or high school football in Texas against a squad of top-rated seniors from the rest of the nation. Seniors rated in the top 15 at their position by the NFL are eligible to play in the game.

The game is held in El Paso, Texas at the Sun Bowl Stadium. The first occurrence of the game was held on February 2, 2007 to conclude the college football season, and was broadcast on CSTV. The 2008 edition of the Texas vs. The Nation game will again be broadcast live on CSTV at 3:00 pm Mountain Time from the Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas.

Former Alabama and Texas A&M head football coach Gene Stallings will lead Team Texas in the second annual Texas vs. the Nation all-star bowl. Stallings will go head-to-head with former Philadelphia Eagles and Chicago Bears coach Buddy Ryan in his second year as head coach for Team Nation. Last year, Ryan led Team Nation to a 24-20 victory over Team Texas and looks to defend the Nation's title this year.

Hayes, a senior who led the Rams in sacks last season, has been training in Naples, Fla., with several other players in preparation for the game.

With the invitation to the game, Hayes will get more exposure with the hopes of getting drafted by an NFL team in April. Scouts from 25 NFL teams came to WSSU during the 2007 season to watch Hayes play.

Hayes led WSSU with 8.5 sacks and was second on the team in total tackles with 78. He also broke up three passes and recovered four fumbles, two of which he returned for touchdowns for the Rams.

Over his past two seasons at WSSU, Hayes, a former star at High Point Andrews, combined for 16 sacks and 129 tackles.

Of the two rosters from last season's Texas vs. The Nation game, 78 players signed NFL contracts.

For additional information on Hayes' invitation to the Texas vs. The Nation game, or for additional information on WSSU football, contact the WSSU Office of Athletic Media Relations at (336) 750-2143 or log on to the Official Website of WSSU Athletics at WSSURams.com.