Sept. 4, 2007

By Rose DiPaula, Athletic Media Relations Staff

COLLEGE PARK, MD. - Joey Haynos is used to facing challenges. Despite walking on to the University of Maryland football team as a smaller, underestimated player, Haynos has transformed himself into one of the top tight ends in the Atlantic Coast Conference, if not the entire nation.

Upon his arrival in College Park, Haynos was slightly under-developed physically and was not one of strongest guys on the team. Head coach Ralph Friedgen said, "He came here and he wasn't very strong, wasn't very big. He probably weighed 225 at the most. With the help of the strength program, he's developed. He's filled his frame out."

But Haynos has done more than just improve his physical condition. He's worked to improve his entire game, as shown by his numbers from last season.

He played in all 13 games and was the team's second-leading receiver with 37 catches for 369 yards. He recorded four touchdowns on the year, with the final one coming in the first quarter of the Terps' win over Purdue in the Champs Sports Bowl in Orlando, Fla.

Haynos' most significant personal achievement came recently over the summer, as he was named one of 30 nominees for college football's Mackey Award. The award is named after Hall of Fame tight end John Mackey and is given to the best collegiate tight end in the country at the end of the regular season.

Haynos said, "It's pretty exciting. I'm just going to play my game and whatever happens, happens."

Part of his maturation from walk-on to someone with national award potential came during the 2006 season. Haynos and his teammates gained a great deal of experience and confidence by winning five conference games by an average margin of less than three points.

"I won't say we wanted to win more [than the other teams], but we wanted it badly. We practice for those types of situations, so when they came up, we were able to pull through," said Haynos.

He has made a role for himself on the team as a leader who plays with a play-hard attitude. He has fallen into a role as a quiet, hard-working type of leader who may not say much but leads by example. Because he is not the most vocal player on the football field, Haynos has found other ways to contribute.

Friedgen said, "He's a wonderful kid; he's very bright. He's not only academically smart, he's also football smart, which I think helps him."

Special teams coordinator and tight ends coach Ray Rychleski said, "He's an outward leader, he's a playmaker. He's got to make plays and be a leader. He's a guy all the guys on the team really like, and they kind of have an attraction to him in a sense that they know that he's with them. He's always encouraging and is always a positive guy."

With more vocal leaders on the team such as linebacker Erin Henderson and quarterback Jordan Steffy, Haynos has accepted his role as a quiet leader.

"Henderson and Steffy are more vocal leaders and they have more prominent leadership positions," said Haynos. "I mean linebacker and quarterback are usually what you think of when you think of leaders. I'm just trying to lead by example. When people get down, I'm just there to keep people going and show them that you have to push through things and work hard to have a good team."

With this kind of attitude, Haynos already has a long-term goal set in his mind. "The ACC Championship is where we want to be come early December. We've worked hard this summer and so far I think we can accomplish that goal. We were so close last year. I mean it came down to one game and we wanted to be there so bad that I think this year we're even hungrier," said Haynos.

Haynos, along with 15 or 20 other players including fellow tight end Dan Gronkowski, demonstrated his commitment to this lofty goal by training a little differently earlier in the summer.

"We took yoga classes twice a week for a few weeks this summer. It helped with our core strength and our flexibility and balance," said the 6-foot-8 Haynos.

Along with his new training methods, Haynos has been working hard on the football field as well.

Rychleski said, "He's improved all around. He's become a really good pass receiver. He has great hands, he's a big target. He makes plays after the catch. I'd say his catching abilities are outstanding."

As a new leader on the team, high expectations await Haynos as he and the rest of the team work their way toward their goal of a conference championship.

When asked what he expects of Haynos this coming year, Rychleski simply answered, "Be first team All-ACC and get drafted on Day 1 [of the NFL Draft] next spring."

Pretty high expectations for a former walk-on.