Recruiting Area: North Dallas - Wichita Falls
Siddiq Haynes is going into his eighth year with the Sam Houston football program, focusing primarily on the Bearkat defensive linemen and the team's philanthropic areas.
With Haynes on staff, the Bearkat defensive line has thrived, and has gone to a whole new level in the last two seasons. In 2019 the Kats boasted one of the top defensive units in all of the FCS, leading the nation in both rush defense (69.9 yards per game), opponent's third-down conversion rate (27.9 percent) and team tackles for loss (10.9 TFL per game).
One year later the Kats' defense was key en route to the national title, ranking 12th in the FCS in tackles for loss and in the top 40 in the nation in rushing defense, all while leading the nation in total takeaways. Haynes saw pupils Joseph Wallace, Trace Mascorro, Jevon Leon and Jahari Kay all earn national and all-conference honors at season's end.
The 2019 unit also pitched a pair of shutouts, the first time since 2012 that the Kats have had two shutouts in a season. Additionally, the Kats' defensive unit ranked in the top 10 in the FCS in scoring defense, turnovers gained, sacks, team passing efficiency defense and red zone defense.
Much of that was due in large part to the Kats' defensive line, which saw three players earn all-SLC honors at season's end, including Mascorro nabbing SLC Newcomer of the Year and all-SLC first-team honors. Meanwhile Joseph Wallace was a second team choice. Jevon Leon, earned third team all-SLC honors and was named a freshman all-American after leading all FCS freshmen in TFLs (16.0) and sacks (8.5).
The Kats' defense saw a big step forward in 2018, ranking in the top three in the nation in sacks and second in the country in tackles per loss in 2018. That season defensive end Derick Roberson led all of FCS in sacks on his way to being named a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award as the top defensive player in the nation.
Haynes also played a big part in the development of Bearkat defensive lineman PJ Hall, who was eventually taken in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders. Haynes was there for all four years with Hall, helping mold him into a four-time all-SLC first team selection, all-American and runner-up for the 2016 Buck Buchanan Award. Hall would close out his career second at SHSU in sacks and as the all-time leader in FCS history in tackles for loss.
Haynes spent the his first three years in Huntsville serving in numerous capacities for the Kats, but still carries on duties of heading up the Bearkats' philanthropic activities, coordinating numerous activities that see the Kats give back to the Huntsville community and surrounding areas.
He spearheaded a program that took advantage of the Fall 2020 semester off due to the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on racial injustice issues on a national, local and in-house level.
Prior to coming to Huntsville, Haynes played for Bearkat head coach K.C. Keeler at Delaware as a defensive tackle from 2007 to 2011. He was a member of the Blue Hens' squads that earned a berth in the FCS National Championship games in both 2007 and 2010.
As a senior, he was an all-conference selection and was named as a team captain for the All State AFCA Good Works team.
Following graduation, Haynes worked for two years as head of community outreach for the athletic marketing program at Delaware.
