USC commit Daelin Hayes schedules Notre Dame official visit

An answer to Notre Dame's seemingly unsolvable pass-rush question may take the form of a familiar name in the 2016 recruiting class. And it could come at the expense of its biggest rival.

USC commit Daelin Hayes plans to visit Notre Dame on an official visit in October when the Irish host the Trojans. The long-time Notre Dame target confirmed the news over the weekend.

Hayes, a 6-foot-3, 239-pound recruit, landed an offer last summer following the Irish Invasion camp.

"I was speechless,” Hayes said last June. "When they told me, I was very excited. I was at a loss for words. It was a great feeling. Notre Dame's always been one of my favorite schools.”

A little more than a month later, Hayes pledged his allegiance to USC. Hayes has remained committed to the Trojans ever since but has hinted at returning to Notre Dame for a visit.

Plenty has changed since Hayes first received an Irish offer. He moved out to California following his USC commitment but moved back to Michigan in the middle of his junior year. After a short stint at Detroit Cass Tech, Hayes has settled in at Ann Arbor Skyline for his senior year.

Hayes opened his senior season with a win on Thursday and made his debut as a defensive end in addition to outside linebacker. The transformation of his position mirrors the shift in Notre Dame's projection of Hayes. He said defensive line coach Keith Gilmore has discussed the potential of playing defensive end and rush linebacker for the Irish.

Regardless of his position, Hayes would be a welcomed addition to Notre Dame's defense. CBS Sports Network recruiting analyst Tom Lemming said Hayes has the potential to be one of the best linebackers in the country.

"He has good size. He runs well," Lemming said. "He has Jaylon Smith-type of potential but hasn’t realized it yet."

If anyone's in a position to compare Hayes to Smith, it would be Notre Dame.

Rivals rates Hayes as a five-star recruit and the No. 3 outside linebacker in the 2016 class. 247Sports slates him as a four-star prospect and No. 8 at the position.

Below are some junior highlights of Hayes.