Reggie Hayes has been told for a long time that he was too short to play quarterback.
It happened when Hayes was a freshman at Parkview Baptist High in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where he became a four-year varsity letterman and two-year team captain.
Hayes was a big-time playmaker in an option-style offense, leading Parkview to consecutive Division II state championships and earning Metro Offensive Player of the Year honors from The Advocate newspaper as a senior.
Army and Navy were the only Division I programs willing to give the youngster a chance to play quarterback. Football Championship Subdivision schools Jackson State, Nicholls State and Southern University all recruited Hayes as a slot receiver.
Hayes earned the starting quarterback job at the Naval Academy Prep School and performed well during the 2016 season. There might have been more doubts when he arrived in Annapolis and looked more like a slotback, but the tiny freshman has already stood out.
Hayes was one of only three plebes to make the depth chart coming out of August training camp. The 5-foot-7, 165-pounder is listed as the third string quarterback behind starter Zach Abey and backup Garret Lewis, both of whom are juniors.
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