Draft Profile: Bio

The transformation from wide receiver to running back doesn't happen overnight, but Jamal Haynes made it look seamless when he switched positions during Georgia Tech's 2023 fall camp. What followed was a breakout campaign that saw him become the Yellow Jackets' first 1,000-yard rusher since 2017, accumulating 1,059 yards on the ground while earning All-ACC third-team honors. His journey from Grayson High School's state championship squad to Atlanta's premier offensive weapon tells the story of an athlete who maximizes every opportunity handed to him.

Haynes arrived in Atlanta as a three-star recruit from the same Grayson program that produced numerous Power Five talents, where he helped capture an undefeated 14-0 state title as a senior. After spending his first two collegiate seasons buried on the depth chart as a receiver without recording statistics, the position switch unlocked his true potential. His 2023 breakout included four 100-yard rushing performances, highlighted by a career-long 67-yard scamper against South Carolina State and a Gasparilla Bowl MVP performance where he gashed UCF for 128 yards on 18 carries. Despite battling injuries throughout 2024, he still managed 944 rushing yards and maintained his status as one of the ACC's most dangerous threats.

The dual-threat capability that made him attractive as a prep athlete has translated beautifully to his current role, where he's accumulated over 2,000 rushing yards across his two seasons as a starter. His receiving background provides an extra dimension that keeps defensive coordinators awake at night, as evidenced by his 48 career receptions for 317 yards. When healthy, Haynes represents everything modern offenses covet in a backfield weapon – speed, versatility, and the vision to turn routine handoffs into explosive plays. His 5.8 yards per carry over two seasons demonstrates consistency that goes beyond just breakaway speed.