2026 safety Karaijus Hayes commits to Vanderbilt

Sarasota (Fla.) Booker three-star safety Karaijus Hayes has committed to Vanderbilt, he announced on Sunday.

He chose the Commodores over Georgia Tech, Michigan State, Miami and others.

Hayes is the No. 799 overall prospect and No. 76 safety in the 2026 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He’s also the No. 108 player in Florida.

The 6-foot, 170-pounder becomes commit No. 4 for head coach Clark Lea and the Dores this cycle. Early on, the class ranks No. 47 in the nation, according to the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings.

Hayes is coming off a highlight-worthy 2024 season, one that saw him rack up 124 total tackles and an interception, per MaxPreps. Booker won 10 games last season and finished as the No. 74 team in the state, per the On3 Composite Rankings.

Vandy originally offered in January and got the ball rolling soon after. Hayes has locked in a May official visit to Nashville, but he isn’t waiting for that OV to hop in the boat for the SEC program.

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San Fransisco Archbishop Riordan three-star quarterback Michael Mitchell Jr. is the top-ranked pledge in the Vandy class, checking in as the No. 507 recruit and No. 29 QB in the cycle. He committed at the end of September.

I’ve built a great relationship with coach (Tim) Beck who has been able to have success everywhere he has been at,” Mitchell told On3. “I look forward to playing for a coach who is a competitor like me and will help me develop as a QB and leader.”

La Grange Park (Ill.) Mount Carmel three-star EDGE Joey Quinn and Cincinnati St. Xavier three-star athlete Daniel Vollmer round out the pledge list, now alongside Hayes.

Last cycle, Vandy signed the nation’s No. 71 class overall. With some momentum on the gridiron heading into this fall, the Dores will look to turn that into more good news on the recruiting trail this spring, summer and fall.