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Hayes Maples, a redshirt sophomore linebacker at Southern Miss, earned one of 11 spots on the 2021 Conference USA All-Academic football team released Thursday afternoon.

In the classroom, the Hattiesburg, Miss., product generated a 3.706 grade point average in Business Administration thus far in his studies on the strength of making the Dean’s List five times and the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll once. In addition, Maples posted three C-USA honor roll selections and boasted a C-USA Academic Medal once.

A second-team C-USA performer on the field last season and a preseason Rotary Lombardi Award watch list member, Maples finished second on the squad in 2021 in tackles with 60 (31 solos). His season totals included 4.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, one pass breakup, three quarterback hurries and two forced fumbles – both coming at Louisiana Tech.

Maples played in all 12 games and started in nine of them. His season-high for tackles came against North Texas in which he registered 10. He also added one nine-tackle performance and two eight-stop games during the year. Over the final four contests, Maples averaged 7.8 tackles.

This fall marks the third-straight season Southern Miss recorded at least one member for this team. Maples is the 12th different Golden Eagle football player to be honored and 18th overall award for the school since its inception in 2007.

– @USMGoldenEagles/@SouthernMissFB –