Olympic sprinter Haynes returning to football roots with Hamilton Tiger-Cats

Quick best describes the Jamaican-born Haynes. The 25-year-old Calgary resident was a track all-American at Alabama and served as the leadoff runner for Canada’s bronze medal-winning 4×100 relay team at the 2016 Rio Games.

In 2015, the five-foot-seven, 170-pound Haynes ran a personal-best 10.15 seconds over 100 metres.

He’ll work as a receiver with Hamilton and could also return kicks.

“He has qualities you can’t teach,” said Drew Allemang, Hamilton’s assistant GM and Canadian scouting director. “I think what we’re looking forward to most is seeing him compete in a football environment.

“He’ll have a lot learn but all young players do. It (pro football) is a big jump.”

Haynes reluctantly gave up football for track after high school when he attended Barton County Community College in Great Bend, Kansas. He planned to be a two-sport athlete there but the school didn’t have a football program so Haynes concentrated on track and academics.

It paid off as Haynes also earned a general health degree at Alabama. Haynes said one key to his track success is never being afraid to fail.

“I’ve always been a fighter and brought that attitude to track,” he said. “I’ve fallen but I’ve always gotten right back up.

“All the things I brought to track that helped me be successful there I’m bringing to football.”

Something Haynes will have to master as a receiver is running quickly in multiple directions under control, rather than going full out in a straight line. He must also learn to run crisp routes and develop peripheral vision to know where defenders are on the field so he’s not crunched by a blindside hit.

Haynes believes his explosiveness will help him gain separation from defenders.

“I think that initial burst will allow me to do that a little better than most and I’m going to use it to my advantage,” he said. “Hopefully, (quickness) will also allow me to turn a simple slant or hitch pass into something bigger.”

Training for football has forced Haynes to modify his off-season regiment.

“I still train like a track athlete on Mondays and Thursdays, which are usually my speed days,” he said. “But when I’m lifting weights, I’m lifting heavier and there’s more reps so everything is adding extra.

“Honestly some days are the same (as track) but other days I dial it in and focus a little more.”

With added strength comes more muscle, yet too much bulk can impact quickness. Haynes wants to report to camp a little heavier but still be lightning quick.

“I’ll be taking hits so I’ll probably try to get to 175 (pounds),” he said. “But I still want to run the 40 in 4.2 or 4.3 seconds.”

Haynes plans to begin working out next month in Hamilton with starter Jeremiah Masoli and veteran receiver Brandon Banks. Haynes is looking forward to learning from the five-foot-seven, 155-pound Banks, another former sprinter who’s now a dual receiver/kick returner threat.

“He’s someone who makes something out of nothing and I think I can do that also,” Haynes said. “I’d like to get there and learn as much as I can so when training camp begins everything isn’t foreign to me.”

The Olympic medal remains a career milestone for Haynes. But even that lofty accomplishment would be trumped if Haynes is on Hamilton’s roster June 16 when it opens the ’18 season in Calgary.

“To have the opportunity to go out of the tunnel with the team onto the football field, that’s always been my dream,” he said. “That would probably raise it a notch higher than the actual medal and (winning) the Grey Cup, that would be even sweeter.

“But I’ve always been good at keeping things one day at a time. I know mini-camp is still a long way away and while I’m there mentally, physically there’s plenty to improve on. I think many people are afraid to take that next step and go for what they truly want. This is something I’ve always wanted and can’t wait.”

Dan Ralph, The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

Olympic sprinter Haynes returning to football roots with Hamilton Tiger-Cats

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