NEW ORLEANS -- Rocky Hayes vividly remembers when Arkansas State's defense started showing signs of breaking down at the midway mark of the 2014 season.
The tipping point, Hayes said Monday at Sun Belt Conference Media Day, came during an Oct. 21 Tuesday night game televised on ESPN2, one matching the past two Sun Belt champions at Lafayette, La.
Hayes at a glance
CLASS Senior
POSITION Cornerback
HEIGHT 5-11
WEIGHT 182
HOMETOWN Heflin, Ala.
NOTEWORTHY Has 4 career interceptions and 15 passes broken up. … Rushed for 538 yards and 3 touchdowns while averaging 9.3 yards per carry as a freshman in 2012. … Returned a fumble a school-record 93 yards for a touchdown in a victory over Idaho last season. … Second-team all-Sun Belt in 2013.
All Hayes can remember is seeing Louisiana-Lafayette running backs Elijah McGuire and Alonzo Harris racing all over Red Wolves en route to 419 rushing yards in a 55-40 victory at Cajun Field.
ASU was 4-2 overall and 2-0 in the Sun Belt heading into the game, and while the loss didn't knock the Red Wolves out of a bowl game or send them to a losing season -- they finished 7-6 overall, 5-3 in the Sun Belt -- it was a sign of troubles to come on defense.
"I was getting frustrated," he said, referring to McGuire's long touchdowns and Harris' bruising bursts up the middle.
Hayes, a cornerback, tried to help.
"I was getting out of my own responsibility to sneak into the box to help the running game," he said. "I just have to do my role and make sure the guys around me are doing theirs."
Hayes pointed to what happened in that game on Monday at the Superdome as his rallying point entering his senior season with the Red Wolves.
ASU's defense, Hayes, said, will be just fine if "everybody does their job."
It's a simple message, and one that Hayes, brought to ASU in 2012 by former Coach Gus Malzahn, is finally looked on to deliver.
He started his ASU career on offense before moving to cornerback as a sophomore, where he has been in and out of the starting lineup -- he's made four interceptions and broken up 15 passes -- while also becoming one of its most dependable special teams players.
ASU Coach Blake Anderson praised Hayes for his attitude while serving in a backup role to seniors Artez Brown and Andrew Tryon last season .
"I think it's kind of the hidden things that you don't talk about a whole lot that shows you what kind of teammate he is," Anderson said of Hayes, who came into his junior season as a preseason All-Sun Belt selection. "He's one of the most respected kids on the team."
Hayes expressed no bitterness about playing a supporting role behind the veterans.
"They had careers like I have a career," said Hayes, who started 3 of 13 games. "So I just had to take a back seat to them. So I had to make sure they got their plays in and just progress their own careers. That's all right. But, I'm a senior now. So it's time for me to go."
Hayes, a second-team preseason All-Sun Belt selection, is now the most experienced member of a secondary coping with the departure of Brown, Tryon and senior safety Sterling Young.
Safeties Money Hunter and Chris Humes each missed spring practice with injuries, too, leaving plenty of questions regarding where everyone will fit in in August.
The one thing that's certain is where Hayes will line up.
"With as many guys as we did graduate in the secondary, it's good to know that you've got a stable veteran out there," Anderson said. "Kind of a calming factor. Doesn't lose his head. Able to stay calm when things are going crazy around him and you always get consistent effort."
The way last season ended has been used as a motivational tool by the Red Wolves this summer, Hayes said. Inside the ASU locker room are several reminders of losses to Louisiana-Lafayette, Appalachian State, Texas State and Toledo, games in which ASU allowed 362.0 rushing yards per game.
"We kind of got embarrassed," he said. "We're just ready to show the world we changed and we're ready to be a better defense."
The pieces in the secondary are there, Hayes said.
Humes has 15 starts at safety despite missing the last 11 games after tearing his bicep last season. Hunter has started 16 career games but missed most of spring practice with a shoulder injury. The other cornerback spot will go to a player without much experience, but transfers Cody Brown and Allen Sentimore were on campus for spring practice and figure into the mix.
It's a group Hayes is charged with leading.
"I'm that veteran guy, but it all comes down to making plays," said Hayes, who has intercepted four passes and broken up 15 in his career. "That's what everybody wants to see. That's what we need. I'm prepared, but I'm really just getting ready to make plays."
Sports on 07/22/2015