Shaine Hailey
	Height	6-0
	Weight	200
	40-yard Dash	4.5
	Bench Press	315
	Squat	545

Scout: ***
247sports: **
rivals: **
scout: No. 96 OLB in country
scout: No. 15 OLB in Texas
scout: No. 16 OLB in Midland Region

Last Year Statistics

94 tackles (68 solo)
11 tackles for loss
2 sacks
4 interceptions
21 interception return yards
2 interceptions returned for touchdowns
1 forced fumbles
1 fumbles recovered
5 kickoff returns
30 kickoff return yards (long: 17)

Strengths as a Player

Shaine Hailey is a smart, instinctive player utilized most often on his high school defense as a strongside linebacker, although the Bishop Dunne coaches did move him around in an effort to create mismatches. Because of his speed and his need to add size and strength, Hailey is more polished at this point when dropping into coverage than he is when taking on big offensive linemen on blitzes, and backed that up by having twice as many interceptions (four) as a senior as he had sacks. A very smart player, Hailey and his coach both said his musical ability — Hailey plays several instruments, including piano, string bass, drums and assorted percussion instruments — has helped his ability to learn his many responsibilities within the Bishop Dunne defense, and should help him as he begins studying the SMU defense.

Interviews

Bishop Dunne head coach Michael Johnson on Shaine Hailey:

First of all, Shaine is very intelligent, very smart — he can pick up any defense, any aspect of any defense. We used him as a drop outside linebacker, so we could use him in man coverage or in zone coverage. When our Mike (middle) linebacker goes down, can put him in at the Mike, and he knows everything he’s supposed to do at that position. What he excels at the most is his intelligence, his willingness to study opponents.

He’s also real athletic, which allows him to cover guys in space. He has great instincts, which makes him a good blitzer, as well.

SMU is a great choice for him. Understanding the style of defense they play, and what Chad Morris and his coaches are doing there, he’s going to do great there. He had more offers, and after he committed, a bunch of other schools came in late and tried to poach him, but he was committed to SMU.

I really liked the way Coach Malone, Coach McDaniel and Coach Wyatt all recruited Shaine. They knew he didn’t have ideal size, per sé — sometimes people look for someone in the 6-foot-3 range at linebacker and forget to see if someone makes plays. In the talks I had with Coach McDaniel, that’s what he said he saw when he looked at Shaine: a guy who just makes plays. He’s so coachable, so smart … SMU is just the right place for him.

He’s a very unique player. I can’t really put a comparison to him, but you can take bits and parts of other people, and look at the way he uses them in his game and the way he plays.

I tell you what: I’m up at the USA Football Conference, and I saw Ray Lewis. He’s not a tall guy, but the way he moved sideline to sideline when he played reminds me of Shaine.

The mental approach to the game is what sets him apart. He always has had that desire for knowledge. Sometimes you can look at film and not know what you’re looking at, and we helped him with the nuances there, and now when he watches film, he really studies, and we see the results in our games.

Shaine Hailey on why he chose SMU:

I just liked the atmosphere, and the way the program is on the rise. I want to be a part of putting the program back on the map and making sure it’s here to stay, to get SMU competing for bowl games and championships again.

Some coaches change after they start recruiting you, once they feel comfortable with you. Not Coach Mac (Archie McDaniel). He hasn’t changed a bit, which makes me think I know the real Coach Mac. He’s just laid back, honest.

(The SMU coaches) seem like great coaches, but they all have lives away from football, and that’s important. They like to talk about how they have a family atmosphere, and they’re more than just a football family — they appreciate their families.

I did a lot of things on my (high school) defense, so I’m not exactly sure what they want to me to do. They said that if I put in the work, I’ll have a chance to play, and that’s what I’m going to do. I’m going to play anywhere they put me.

(Recruiting visit host) Myles (Duke) said he really likes it at SMU. He said it’s hard to wake up in the mornings, but other than waking up, it’s what he likes. I’m mean in the morning, but I can adjust.

My expectation is to play. If I don’t meet the physical requirements, if I put myself in danger because of my physical attributes, of course I’ll definitely redshirt to get better.

Music is a big part of my life — I play piano, drums, string bass and pretty much all percussion instruments — and I think it has helped me in football, learning the defense. The way the notes are set up on the page, you have to read the notes, transfer that to your hands in a second, and that helps when a coach tells me to do something — it helps me remember.