The Journal Sentinel interviewed 16 scouts with national orientation in the last three weeks, asking them to rank the top five cornerbacks. Hayden never even got a mention until a week ago.
As it was, Alabama's Dee Milliner became the first cornerback in a decade to be a unanimous choice in the poll. He drew all 16 first-place votes.
Following Milliner and his 80 points were Xavier Rhodes and Desmond Trufant, each with 44; Jamar Taylor, 14; Johnthan Banks, 13; Darius Slay, 12; Hayden, seven; Blidi Wreh-Wilson, six; David Amerson, five; Sanders Commings, four; Robert Alford and Leon McFadden, three; Dwayne Gratz and Logan Ryan, two; and Jordan Poyer, one.