2026 Football Roster

Hayes Creel
- Position:
- Offensive Line
- Height:
- 6-7
- Weight:
- 320
- Class:
- Redshirt Senior
- Hometown:
- Hermon, La.
- High School:
- St. Paul’s
- Prev School:
- Southern Miss
- Major:
- Undecided
Mid-year graduate transfer from Southern Miss who, enrolled at East Carolina in January of 2026 … Three-year starter and letterman (2/McNeese, 1/Southern Miss) … Started 33 of 35 career games including a current streak of 33 consecutive entering first year with the Pirates … Logged over 1,300 snaps during two seasons at McNeese … Earned undergraduate degree from Southern Miss in December of 2025.
Southern Miss (2025): Started all 13 games during lone season … Helped the Golden Eagles to a 7-6 record which included a bowl game against Western Kentucky (25th Annual New Orleans Bowl) … USM’s offense registered two games with 500 or more yards of total offense with a season-high 528 vs. Arkansas State … Opened up running lanes for an offense that had 100-plus ground yards in a game 12 times (season-best 225 vs. Jacksonville State) … Golden Eagles passed for over 250 yards in a game six times (300-plus on three occasions) with a season-high 400 against South Alabama … Member of an offensive unit that ranked among FBS (Top 60) leaders in passing offense (25th/266.1 pg), first down offense (42nd/282), team passing efficiency (49th/141.71), total offense (52nd/402.1), passing yards per completion (55th/11.97), TFLs allowed (55th/5.08 pg), sacks allowed (55th/1.69 pg), scoring offense (57th/28.8 ppg).
McNeese (2024): Started all 12 games played … Logged nearly 800 snaps on offense helping the squad average 25.0 points per game … Helped the Cowboys rank among the FCS leaders (Top 50) in red zone offense (18th/87.8 pct.), TFLs allowed (20th/4.42 pg), rushing offense (22nd/191.7 pg), passing yards per completion (37th/12.81), fourth down conversion percentage (39th/55.0) and total offense (42nd/387.0 pg) … Named Preseason Third Team All-Southland by Phil Steele Magazine.
McNeese (2023): Appeared in 10 games making eight starts to close out the season … Credited with 541 total snaps … The offensive unit stood among FCS leaders in passing yards per completion (39th/12.32), while leading the Southland Conference in red zone offense (80.0 pct.) … They averaged 321.9 yards of total offense a game (131.0 rush, 190.9 passing).
McNeese (2022): Redshirted during initial year with the program.
High School: Prepped at St. Paul’s School, where he was First-Team All-District 6-5A and All-Parish … Earned Second-Team Class 5A All-State and an Academic All-State selection … Team finished 8-3 overall and 6-1 in district play and played in the Louisiana Division I semifinals, falling by one point to the eventual state champion … Academic All-State selection.
Personal: Son of Brandon and Ellen Creel … Has two siblings (Hampton and Harrison Creel) … Enjoys playing the piano.
Southern Miss (2025): Started all 13 games during lone season … Helped the Golden Eagles to a 7-6 record which included a bowl game against Western Kentucky (25th Annual New Orleans Bowl) … USM’s offense registered two games with 500 or more yards of total offense with a season-high 528 vs. Arkansas State … Opened up running lanes for an offense that had 100-plus ground yards in a game 12 times (season-best 225 vs. Jacksonville State) … Golden Eagles passed for over 250 yards in a game six times (300-plus on three occasions) with a season-high 400 against South Alabama … Member of an offensive unit that ranked among FBS (Top 60) leaders in passing offense (25th/266.1 pg), first down offense (42nd/282), team passing efficiency (49th/141.71), total offense (52nd/402.1), passing yards per completion (55th/11.97), TFLs allowed (55th/5.08 pg), sacks allowed (55th/1.69 pg), scoring offense (57th/28.8 ppg).
McNeese (2024): Started all 12 games played … Logged nearly 800 snaps on offense helping the squad average 25.0 points per game … Helped the Cowboys rank among the FCS leaders (Top 50) in red zone offense (18th/87.8 pct.), TFLs allowed (20th/4.42 pg), rushing offense (22nd/191.7 pg), passing yards per completion (37th/12.81), fourth down conversion percentage (39th/55.0) and total offense (42nd/387.0 pg) … Named Preseason Third Team All-Southland by Phil Steele Magazine.
McNeese (2023): Appeared in 10 games making eight starts to close out the season … Credited with 541 total snaps … The offensive unit stood among FCS leaders in passing yards per completion (39th/12.32), while leading the Southland Conference in red zone offense (80.0 pct.) … They averaged 321.9 yards of total offense a game (131.0 rush, 190.9 passing).
McNeese (2022): Redshirted during initial year with the program.
High School: Prepped at St. Paul’s School, where he was First-Team All-District 6-5A and All-Parish … Earned Second-Team Class 5A All-State and an Academic All-State selection … Team finished 8-3 overall and 6-1 in district play and played in the Louisiana Division I semifinals, falling by one point to the eventual state champion … Academic All-State selection.
Personal: Son of Brandon and Ellen Creel … Has two siblings (Hampton and Harrison Creel) … Enjoys playing the piano.
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