Ohio State running back transfer Dallan Hayden commits to Colorado

Former Ohio State running back Dallan Hayden tells On3 he will be transferring to Colorado following a weekend visit to Boulder.

“I just feel like it was a good situation,” Hayden told On3. “They have great receivers, great quarterback, o-line is very good and I felt like I can help that running back room a lot.”

Prior to the visit Hayden told On3 he was looking for a place where he’d have the opportunity to be the guy and found that in Boulder. Head coach Deion Sanders, quarterback Shedeur Sanders and the rest of the players and coaches said as much.

“They were telling me I can be a big part of the offense,” Hayden said. “Come in and work and let the cards fall where they fall. I feel good about everything.”

Offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur and running backs coach Gary Harrell were a big part of the decision.

“I just really liked they have a bunch of NFL experience inside that building, 127 years to be exact,” Hayden said. “Pat Shurmur and Coach Flea (Harrell) did a good job. They impressed me.”

Other schools that expressed interest in Hayden included UCLA, Louisville, Auburn, Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech and Texas A&M. Hayden was the first transfer portal prospect Sanders reached out to and now he has his tailback.

“It just felt like home,” the running back said. “Everything felt right, I was like why not?”

Hayden spent two seasons at Ohio State. In his true freshman season, Hayden played in 10 games, amassing 111 carries for 553 yards and five touchdowns. Then, in 2023, he had 19 carries for 110 yards and a touchdown.