There can be little disagreement that Haynes should be considered one of the most dominant defensive players to ever step onto the field for the Cardinals.

In 1994, as a sophomore, Haynes and the Cardinals claimed the college’s first football national championship and posted their first-ever undefeated 12-0 season. To say Haynes helped would be an understatement.

His sophomore season saw him named NJCAA All-American, conference Defensive Player of the Year and the team’s Most Valuable Player. He was also named the MVP of the Texas Shrine Bowl in Tyler, where the Cardinals scored a 24-17 overtime win against Northeastern Oklahoma A&M in the NJCAA championship game.

In his two seasons anchoring the defense, the Cardinals went  20-1-2.

Haynes went on to play two seasons at the University of Houston, where he played in all 11 games as a junior, recording 25 solo tackles, 12 assists and two sacks. As a senior starter, he helped the Cougars rise from a two-win season to a 7-5 record and Liberty Bowl appearance.

He spent two years on the practice squad of the Indianapolis Colts after leaving Houston.

At the time of his death at age 40 on July 14, 2014, he was an assistant coach at his high school alma mater.