Hayes enrolled at Michigan in
2018, but did not appear in any games. Prior to his sophomore season, head coach
Jim Harbaugh announced that Hayes would back up
Jalen Mayfield and
Jon Runyan Jr. As a sophomore in
2019, he played 12 games on the offensive line, including two starts. He made his collegiate debut on August 31, 2019, in a game against
Middle Tennessee. He started at left tackle in place of fifth-year senior Runyan, who sat out due to an injury. He was the team's swing tackle after Runyan returned from injury. As a junior in
2020, he started the first two games at left tackle, however, he missed the remainder of the season due to injury, in a season that was shortened due to the
COVID-19 pandemic. As a senior in
2021 he started all 14 games at left tackle and helped lead the offensive line with the fewest sacks allowed (10) and third-fewest tackles for loss (27) nationally and won the
Joe Moore Award. Following the season he was named second-team
All-Big Ten. As a graduate student in
2022, he started 11 games, after missing the first game of the season due to injury. He helped lead the offensive line with 12 sacks allowed and a 5.97 sack-adjusted yards per carry, and again won the Joe Moore Award. Following the season he was again named second-team
All-Big Ten. On November 21, 2022, he accepted an invite to the
Senior Bowl. ==Professional career==