Kansas football recruiting

Bryson Hayes, a three-star wide receiver from Maize who was previously going to play at Nebraska next year, has flipped his commitment to Kansas football.

“Kansas was always top of my list in recruiting,” he told Jon Kirby of JayhawkSlant.com. “The way they value me and always showed me how much I mean to their program really means a lot.”

Hayes announced the move on social media on Saturday night, shortly after KU beat Iowa State at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.

The move significantly bolsters a small class of freshman wideouts, already including Jackson Cook and Tate Nagy, that will have significant opportunities to impact the program right away after the departures of Lawrence Arnold, Luke Grimm, Quentin Skinner and Trevor Wilson.

Hayes initially received an offer from KU back in May of 2023 but committed to the Huskers on April 14. He is varyingly listed at 5-foot-11 or 6-foot and 180 pounds, and is well known for his high-level speed, with 247Sports’ Allen Trieu calling him “lightning in a bottle.”

“(He) takes the top off a defense and accelerates past defenders on go balls but can also take short balls and outrun defenses,” Trieu wrote in a scouting report on Hayes. “Big-play guy, but want to see him continue to show the whole route tree. Also needs to add weight and get stronger.”

Hayes’ flip is another in-state victory for KU shortly following the commitment of 2026 quarterback Jaylen Mason, and also provides a measure of retribution for the Jayhawks against Nebraska after they lost 2025 offensive lineman Juju Marks to the Huskers on Oct. 20.

“Staying in state and playing for your home state school means a lot,” Hayes told Kirby. “Knowing my state will have my back and knowing I will be able to play with Kansas on my chest is exciting for sure. I can’t wait to get the new stadium jumping on Saturdays.”

Hayes also had offers from the likes of Iowa State, Kansas State and Tulsa. According to Rivals, prior to Saturday’s game, he had visited KU on eight separate occasions.