Minium: ODU Football Quarterback Hayden Wolff was Ready When he Got the Call

By Harry Minium

NORFOLK, Va. – Hayden Wolff was disappointed when he wasn't named Old Dominion's starting quarterback this fall. And who can blame him?

The redshirt freshman from Venice, Florida, one of the highest-rated recruits ODU has ever signed, started three games as a true freshman in 2019, when he showed a ton of promise. He worked hard last fall, when the Monarchs didn't play because of the pandemic, and all through spring practice into the fall.

But he didn't sulk, nor did he stop working, when coach Ricky Rahne named transfer D.J. Mack Jr. the starter just prior to ODU's opener at Wake Forest.

Instead, he just kept grinding. Each week he practiced hard, watched film and studied the game plan. He also did all he could to help Mack prepare for each game.

Wolff was ready to start in each of ODU's first six games. It didn't matter that he didn't play, or played sparingly. Wolff is passionate about playing football, he knows having the chance to play FBS football is a gift.

And he said he knew, eventually, his time would come.

He finally got the call to start Saturday night when the Monarchs hosted Western Kentucky. And although the 43-20 loss was far from the result ODU was hoping for, there were encouraging signs in his performance.

Wolff completed 26 of 41 passes for 327 yards. That's the most passing yardage an ODU quarterback has thrown for since 2018.
 
 The only players to throw for more in a single game were Taylor Heinicke, David Washington, Thomas DeMarco and Blake LaRussa, the four best quarterbacks in ODU's 12 seasons.

That's pretty good company.

It was far from a perfect game for Wolff. He threw two interceptions and fumbled the ball away once. And while he's got a stronger and more accurate arm than Mack, he's not as mobile.

Yet considering that he hadn't started a game in two seasons, it was an impressive performance.

"You've got to be ready for your opportunity when it comes," Rahne said. "If you're not preparing hard the entire season, it's going to be hard to do that.

"He's prepared like he's the starter from day one. He was able to come and play pretty well.

"Obviously, there are some things we've got to fix . . . but I think there were some things to build on."


Ali Jennings III after hauling in a pass

Rahne said Wolff is now his starter and that's just fine with Ali Jennings III, the wide receiver who transferred to ODU from West Virginia. Jennings caught 13 passes, one short of tying the ODU single-game receiving record, for 172 yards against WKU.

When asked what he liked about Wolff, Jennings was all-in.

"He's got a big arm, a lot of confidence, he's a field general," he said. "Yeah, he's a quarterback. He gets me the ball. He gets the other guys the ball. He's very focused. He knows all the assignments. He helps us out if we get a little confused."

Jennings said that after Wolff was told he would start on the Sunday preceding the game, he immediately stepped up as a leader.

"He knew it was his time," Jennings said. "He was staying in the facility until 9 at night watching film. He brought us into the facility with him to watch film.

"After practice, he had us catching extra passes, including difficult passes.

"We practiced with D.J. and Hayden all summer so we knew what he brings to the table. It was just a matter of seeing him come out and perform."

Wolff was in command even in the media interviews after Saturday's game. When someone asked a tough question of three players at the podium, he put up his hand and said, "I'll take this one."


Hayden Wolff is ODU's starting quarterback

It was one of many questions regarding how the Monarchs are dealing with adversity. Before Saturday, they had lost three heartbreaking games in a row, including two games they surely should have won – a 35-34 home loss to Buffalo and an overtime, 20-13 loss to Marshall.

"It's always tough losing," Wolff said. "No competitor likes to lose.

"Obviously, all three of us, we're mad that we lost. But our coaches preach the 1-0 mentality. And what that means is everything that you do, every rep that you take, every breath that you take, you're doing everything you can to be the best version of yourself.

"It's hard to lose, but at the same time we're not going to lose the faith. We're going to keep fighting, keep going, 1-0. We have the guys on our team that can put that together."

Losing has been difficult for Jennings, who won championships at two Richmond area high schools before signing with West Virginia.

"Before I transferred, we had just won a bowl game," he said. "It just feels like a cut that keeps getting deeper and deeper.

"But we're doing the right things. We're coming in every day and working hard, doing what we're supposed to do, working on our grades.

"We can't find a way to get over the hump. It's something that's frustrating and hurts, but I feel like this team has done a great job of staying positive, staying humble, staying confident in our game. We have to find a way to get over the wall."

ODU has a bye week before hosting Louisiana Tech on Oct. 30. And although the practice schedule this week will be lighter than usual, to allow bumps and bruises to heal, the focus on turning things around will be as intense as ever, Wolff said.

"I think this is a good time for us to kind of take a look in the mirror a little bit and see what's important," he said.

ODU was 1-11 in 2019, the last season the Monarchs played, but Wolff said this team has little in common with that team.

"I was here in 2019, but the feeling is different now," he said. "It's not the same as 2019.

"Obviously, the record is, you know, I don't even know what our record is. We lost tonight.

"But the morale on the team is different than it was then. Each week, we go out there and execute like we're supposed to and just haven't gotten the results yet.

"No one is going to give up on our team. We're going to keep fighting. Each week, we're going to prepare as if we're going to win."

Which surely is what Rhane wants to hear from his new starter.

Minium was twice nominated for the Pulitzer Prize in his 39 years at The Virginian-Pilot and won 27 state and national writing awards. He covers ODU athletics for odusports.com Follow him on Twitter @Harry_MiniumODU, Instagram @hbminium1 or email hminium@odu.edu