Kicking It In College – Zach Haynes Punts For RedHawks Scholarship To Southeast Missouri

Zach Haynes continues to excel on the football field and in the classroom. He’s listed as a Junior at Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau. He’s already been at the school for two years and graduated from Potosi High School.

Zach was a stand-out athlete on the football field for the Trojans, playing offense, defense and punting. His punting ability got him on the S.E.MO. Redhawks as a walk on athlete.

He began his college football career as a red shirt freshman punter. He stuck with the team and did the work, learned more about punting a football and enjoyed school. As a red shirt, his first year did not count against his eligibility to be a college athlete. His second year, the infamous 2020 season, was interrupted by the pandemic, with the team only playing a short season with just area opponents.

Haynes made a name for himself with the coaching staff after walking on at Cape. His work got him recognition and he was picked as a HERO Sports 1st Team All American player for punting last year, even with the shortened season.

Being a punter puts Zach Haynes into a specialist group, and he says he really enjoys it and being able to focus on the punting aspect of the game. Zach said, “When I was in high school, I did have some good help from Coach Pannett my freshman, sophomore and junior years. My senior year I was kind of on my own with the kicking. But, I was also playing offense and defense, so there was a lot going on.”

Haynes said he got to come in to the Red Hawks behind some really talented people and that helped him learn as well.

Speaking of learning, Zach said his grades are good and the help available for the athletes is outstanding at Cape. “I’ve enjoyed my classes and if I ever need anything of the school side, we’ve got some excellent academic advisors.”

Zach had just found out that he’d been awarded an athletic scholarship, along with two other teammates, in April of 2021. He said, “The fact that the coaches and staff recognized my commitment and trust my ability is great. I’m so thankful that this scholarship will take a load off my family, worrying about my education. Now I can get to work on the books and the field and don’t have to worry about the bill. It’s great!”

Zach Haynes has an interesting situation as he sits right now at Cape. He was first a red shirt freshman, then the pandemic caused the athletic year not to count on eligibility, so he has four years still to play football. This year, with a regular schedule, will be his first year on the full roster for the Redhawks.

As the football team gets ready to take the field, starting play in September, a 2021 Preseason All-Ohio Valley Conference Football Team has been announced. Players from eight different schools were eligible with selections also ranking the teams before the start of the season. Southeast Redhawks are picked second for the conference prediction and Zach Haynes was picked as the outstanding punter for the Conference and only one of seven Southeast players listed.

Going to the Southeast website, readers will find lots of information on the Redhawks and Zach Haynes.

Zach’s personal stat page says:

2019: Redshirted.

Prep: Played wide receiver, while handling kicking and punting duties at Potosi High School...Kicked off 35 times for 1,477 yards and punted 33 times for 1,977 yards as a senior...Averaged 45.9 yards per punt...Led the team with 11 catches for 233 yards and two touchdowns...Recorded a team-high 119 tackles, including 83 solo stops...Had 15 receptions for 209 yards and four touchdowns as a junior...Scored 43 points...Averaged 43.6 yards per punt...Added 73 tackles on defense.

Personal: Born October 18, 2000...Majoring in Management...Son of Mickey and Stephanie Haynes.

Zach Haynes was named HERO Sports Freshman All-American

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Southeast Missouri punter Zach Haynes was one of five Ohio Valley Conference players named to the 2020-21 HERO Sports Freshman All-America Team Wednesday.

A native of Potosi, Missouri, Haynes also earned First-Team All-OVC honors this season. He led the OVC and ranked 15th in the Football Championship Subdivision with 42.2 yards per punt. Haynes punted 36 times for 1,521 yards and dropped 15 of his punts inside the 20-yard line. He had a season-long 53-yard punt at Eastern Illinois (Feb. 28).

Murray State running back Damonta Witherspoon, Tennessee State running back Devon Starling, Jacksonville State linebacker Jaylen Swain and UT Martin kicker Tyler Larco rounded out the OVC players on this year’s HERO Sports Freshman All-America Team.

In the pre-season ranking story, Zach was mentioned as a walk-on, Haynes led the OVC and ranked 15th in the FCS with 42.2 yards per punt. He punted 36 times for 1,521 yards and dropped 15 of his punts inside the 20-yard line. Haynes had a season-long 53-yard punt at Eastern Illinois (Feb. 28).

SEMO kicks off its season when it hosts longtime rival Southern Illinois Sept. 2.   

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Southeast Missouri will play an 11-game football schedule with five games at Houck Field in 2021. 

Four opponents on the Redhawks schedule this fall ranked in the final STATS Perform Football Championship Subdivision Top 25, including Sam Houston (No. 1), Southern Illinois (No. 8), Murray State (No. 18) and Austin Peay (No. 23).

SEMO kicks off its season against longtime rival SIU (Sept. 2) at home. This year marks the 89th meeting in a series that dates back to 1909 when the teams crossed the Mississippi River by boat to play.

 The game is now known as the “War for the Wheel” in reference to the ship’s wheel trophy which goes to the winner. The wheel currently resides in Carbondale after the then-No. 24 Salukis kicked a last second field goal to beat then-No. 25 SEMO, 20-17, on Oct. 30, 2020.

SEMO will then travel to reigning FCS National Champion Sam Houston (Sept. 11) and Football Bowl Subdivision and Southeastern Conference member Missouri (Sept. 18) for its other non-conference games.

Sam Houston finished the spring with a perfect 10-0 record and edged South Dakota State, 23-21, to win their first national title. 

The Redhawks square off against Missouri for the fifth time in program history. The Tigers won the first four games in the series, all of which were played in Columbia. 

Ohio Valley Conference football-playing members will play six Conference games in a round-robin format as part of the official OVC schedule.

Furthermore, OVC Directors of Athletics agreed to schedule additional games against OVC opponents outside the structure of the Conference schedule as a way to play competitive games within the region. These designated matchups against OVC opponents will not count in the Conference standings. The dates of these matchups will be announced by the individual member schools as part of their full schedule release.

In developing this scheduling option, the Directors of Athletics worked together to ensure the unique scheduling needs of each program were addressed.

SEMO will begin its OVC slate at home against Tennessee State (Sept. 25). Murray State (Oct. 16), Eastern Illinois (Oct. 30) and UT Martin (Nov. 20) also come to Cape Girardeau, although the home game with Murray State will not count in the Conference standings.

The away portion of the Redhawks schedule includes trips to Tennessee Tech (Oct. 2), Austin Peay (Oct. 9), UT Martin (Oct. 23) and Murray State (Nov. 13). The road game at UT Martin is designated as SEMO’s other matchup that will not count in the OVC standings.

The 2021 campaign will mark the 74th football season for the OVC. 

Ticket Information

Season ticket renewals and new sales are now open for the upcoming fall season.

SEMO Athletics will return to full capacity for games at Houck Field this fall. Current season ticket holders will return to their original seat locations (same as the 2019 season). The deadline to renew season tickets is Friday, July 2. 

A limited number of permanent chairback seats at the 50-yard line are available for the fall season. New this year, season ticket holders in Reserved Bleacher sections will have the option to add a padded chairback that will be installed for the season at their seat location. Season ticket options also include the Touchdown Plaza tailgate area, as well as the all-inclusive Field Goal Club, which features all-you-can-eat-and-drink provisions from Mary Jane bourbon + smokehouse, Kohlfeld Distributing and Pepsi. 

For more information or to purchase fall 2021 SEMO Football season tickets, visit GoSoutheast.com/FBtickets or call the Athletic Ticket Office at (573) 651-2113.

It’s great to see young people excel and succeed as they go on in life. Congratulations to Zach Haynes and best wishes on his future. See Zach and the Redhawks on the field this Fall!