Pitt defensive end Dayon Hayes’ simple assault charge was withdrawn during his hearing this afternoon at the Pittsburgh Municipal Court.
In addition to Hayes’ simple assault charge being withdrawn, a harassment charge was moved to a non-traffic summary offense.
Hayes was arrested and charged on Nov. 6, and with his hearing resulting in the charge being withdrawn, the case is officially considered closed. Hayes’ return to the football team, which already began with a return to the field against Duke, is clear.
Hayes was removed from the weekly two-deep depth chart and did not travel to Charlottesville, Virginia for the matchup against UVa after the arrest, but he returned to the team last week after Pat Narduzzi said Hayes “paid a price with the team.”
“Like I said, there’s — you’re always innocent until you’re proven guilty,” Narduzzi said last Monday at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. “But we kind of made him guilty until he’s innocent. So, he’s paid a price with the team, he’s paid a price on the field. He was out for a week.
“Again, spent some time down in what we call the Pit down there doing some stuff with (strength and conditioning coach) Michael Stacchiotti. So, we’ll wait to see where that whole thing goes. And then, you know, move on from there.”
Hayes recorded two tackles (one solo) against Duke, and he’s racked up nine tackles (two solo) in six games. A knee surgery knocked him out of the Western Michigan, Rhode Island, Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech games this season.
Hayes will likely play increased roles against Miami and in the bowl game to conclude the 2022 season.
Bobby Del Greco-Roman one of pitts all time greats.
It’s borderline criminal how good he is on defense, Del Greco. Does Dior Johnson have his cell number?