Big News For Vanderbilt Commodores Football

Karaijus Hayes is the fourth player to commit to the Commodores and his commitment arrives days before the NCAA transfer portal chaos begins again.

The NCAA Transfer Portal’s spring window is set to open on Wednesday, bringing a mix of positive and negative developments for programs across the country — including Vanderbilt.

However, the Commodores kicked off the week on a high note with a boost to their 2026 recruiting class. On Sunday, three-star safety Karaijus Hayes announced his commitment to Vanderbilt. The standout from Sarasota Booker High School picked the Commodores over offers from Georgia Tech, Michigan State, and Miami.

#anchordown⚓️ @Coach_Lea @coachMRiceVU @Kendall_Lawson3 pic.twitter.com/vVhtIcMrlh

— 3⭐️Karaijus Hayes (@Karaijus_) April 13, 2025

Hayes is ranked as the No. 76 safety in the 2026 class by On3 and No. 70 by 247Sports. He made a big impact during his junior season at Booker High School, posting 124 tackles and an interception while helping lead the team to a 10-win campaign. Hayes also reportedly has an official visit to Vanderbilt lined up for May.

His pledge marks the fourth commitment in Vanderbilt’s 2026 class, joining athlete Daniel Vollmer, quarterback Michael Mitchell Jr., and edge rusher Joey Quinn. All four prospects are currently rated as three-star recruits. It’s a promising early group for the Commodores, whose class is ranked No. 48 by On3, No. 56 by 247Sports, and No. 72 by ESPN — though that latter ranking doesn’t yet reflect Hayes’ addition.

While Vanderbilt’s staff continues to build on the recruiting front, they’ll also be monitoring developments in the NCAA Transfer Portal. Still, head coach Clark Lea doesn’t expect the program to be overly active during the spring window.

“We don’t need to be real active right now,” Lea said after Saturday’s spring game. “Our focus is on the progress we’ve made with the guys already here. I’m proud of who we’ve retained. We’ve built strong chemistry and an environment we value. Less is more for us — maybe just a few precise additions.”

2026 Vanderbilt Commitments:

• S Karaijus Hayes – 6’0”, 170 lbs – Sarasota, Florida (Committed 4/13/2025)
• ATH Daniel Vollmer – 6’2”, 210 lbs – Cincinnati, Ohio (Committed 2/5/2025)
• QB Michael Mitchell Jr. – 5’11”, 185 lbs – San Francisco, California (Committed 9/21/2024)
• EDGE Joey Quinn – 6’5”, 260 lbs – Chicago, Illinois (Committed 3/26/2025)