Hayworth excited to join Wake family
Kingsport (Tenn.) offensive lineman Ty Hayworth committed to Wake Forest in August 2011, just prior to the start of his senior season at Dobyns Bennett High School.
Over the past year the 6-4, 300-pounder has come to see Wake Forest as a large family.
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Joining the family upon his arrival in Winston-Salem July 8 is something Hayworth is particularly excited about.
"The whole thing (about choosing Wake Forest), it just seemed like one big family. I feel like it is a home away from home, and everyone on that team is just a big family. It just feels good for me with the coaches and stuff," Hayworth said.
"I can't wait to join it (Wake Forest's program). We're on the rise it seems, and hopefully this 2016 class that's coming in, hopefully we can have a big effect on it," he added.
Hayworth recently completed his high school studies in Tennessee. Now he's enjoying his final weeks at home before getting going with mid-summer training in Winston-Salem.
"It's been sneaking up on me, I guess you could say. I'm realizing that I'm leaving (home) in a month and a few days. It's crazy," he said. "I show up (at Wake) July 8."
As he gets ready for his arrival at Wake Forest, Hayworth is doing several things to prepare.
"I've been doing a lot of 'Cross Fit' training and stuff, trying to get the quickness and endurance I'll need to compete at the Division I level," he said.
Hayworth was initially recruited to Wake by Steed Lobotzke as he served in dual roles as offensive coordinator/offensive line coach, but now that Jonathan Himebauch has come to serve as the Demon Deacons' offensive line coach, he's gotten to know Hayworth more personally too.
Himebauch visited with Hayworth in Tennessee shortly after taking the job at Wake.
"Right after he (Himebauch) got hired, he and Coach Lobo came (to my school) and we got to talk a bunch. And I went up to a bunch of spring practice and then I went to the spring game, so I've had a lot of communication with Coach Himebauch," he said.
As he gets ready to show up at Wake, Hayworth has kept in touch with some of his fellow Demon Deacon freshmen.
"Yeah, I've kept in touch with a couple of them. There's been a couple that I've been texting with and keeping in touch with on Twitter and Facebook and stuff like that," he said.
The Demon Deacons will likely redshirt Hayworth in 2012 as they work in a collection of veterans and youngsters up front, but he's a big part of the program's future plans at left guard.
"They're probably going to start me out at left guard," Hayworth said. "I really hope I can be a piece of the puzzle with our team's success. I hope I can help us win games and help us win championships."