Man Charged With Killing Ex-Saints Player Will Smith Was a Prep Football Star

Cardell Hayes is currenly incarcerated at the New Orleans Parish Prison.

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Earlier today you likely read about the bummer news that former Saints defensive end Will Smith was shot and killed after what sounds like a road rage incident. His wife Racquel was also shot twice in her right leg, but she's expected to survive. Their alleged shooter, Cardell Hayes, has since been charged with second-degree murder. 

Before he became nationally known for all the wrong reasons, the Times Picayune reports that the 28-year-old Hayes had been a local prep star who was ranked amongst Louisiana's top recruits in 2004, and had some degree of interest (probably minimal) from a number of D1 programs. Though it appears he never played collegiately, Hayes was still playing organized ball as recently as last year when he suited up for the Crescent City Kings, a "local developmental team."

Additionally, he was an extra in the 2014 action-comedy 22 Jump Street, where he appeared as a football player for literally one second

Cardinals All-Pro defensive back, and New Orleans native, Tyrann Mathieu also claims to have known Hayes and had (not surprisingly) negative things to say about him on his Twitter account:

Hayes is currently incarcerated at the New Orleans Parish Prison.

Send all complaints, compliments, and tips to sportstips@complex.com

[via NOLA.com, New York Daily News]

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