Brian Hayden - #47
Senior Linebacker - Captain
6'1 - 235
Hillsboro, NJ
Immaculata

Brian Hayden is an excellent example of someone who was ready when opportunity knocked. As a sophomore in 1997, he was slated as a second string outside linebacker on the depth chart. But due to Vladimir Gomez's leg injury, he was thrown into the starting lineup. He hasn't left since. By the end of the '97 campaign, he was playing as well as any of the league's linebackers, averaging eight tackles and a sack over the team's last four games. It was more of the same in 1998 as Hayden made 73 stops, combining with Zach Falconer and Steve Kives to form the league's best linebacker trio. Often overshadowed the past two years by Kives, Hayden will be the lone captain of the team in his final season, the Huskies' first solo leader since Shawn O'Malley in 1985. Hayden is not flashy, rather he's reached this point simply through hard work. He missed the spring season with a left shoulder injury, which has made him even more hungry to get going in 1999. Hayden is a second team preseason All-A10 selection.
1998: Started all 11 games...had a pair of double-figure tackle games, now has total of three for his career...named third team All-Atlantic 10...third on the team with 73 tackles...led the team in recovered fumbles with three, including critical one with under a minute left to secure season-opening win over UNH...recorded career-high 14 tackles in NU's win against Rhode Island...finished the season strong; recorded six tackles (including three for loss), had one sack and his first career interception against James Madison...followed the JMU game with 10 stops in the season finale at Maine.
1997: Named NU's Most Improved Defensive Player... started every game...finished second on the team in tackles (70) and sacks (4.5)...led NU with 13 tackles for loss, tied for fifth-best in the A10...scored first career touchdown off a fumble recovery versus William & Mary...had first double-figure tackle total of his career with 11 stops and a sack in win at Richmond.
1996: After a redshirt season in 1995, saw limited playing time as a reserve linebacker...made first career tackle against Massachusetts (Sept. 28), assisting on a stop.
1995: Redshirt season.
High School: Earned three letters in football and two in basketball at Immaculata High...as a senior football captain, named to the All-State, All-Area, All-County, All-Conference, and All-Central Jersey squads.
Personal: Born Aug. 6, 1977...majoring in Business...has three brothers...nickname is "Hurricane"...Class of 2000...father Brian was a member of the basketball team at Loyola-Chicago.