Feature Pieces
VUCommodores.com – Jo Captain my Captain
The 2025 season marks the eighth on the Vanderbilt coaching staff for Jovan Haye, a former Commodore defensive standout and NFL veteran. Haye served in a quality control role in 2018, defensive line coach in 2019-20 and has mentored the razor, a hybrid defensive end/linebacker, on Clark Lea’s staff since 2021.
In 2024, Haye helped senior Miles Capers emerge as a key cog in the Commodore defense as Vandy had its first winning season and bowl victory in over a decade. Capers tied for the team lead with eight tackles for loss. He consistently factored in the biggest games all season, recording two tackles for loss in the season-opening win over Virginia Tech and one each in the wins over No. 1 Alabama, the bowl-eligibility-clinching win at Auburn and the Birmingham Bowl win over Georgia Tech. The Dores went 5-2 in games that Capers recorded a tackle for loss, with the only setbacks in a three-point loss to national semifinalist Texas and double overtime at No. 7 Missouri.
The 2023 campaign saw the addition of transfer Aeneas DiCosmo who started all 12 games and made 6.0 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble. In addition, Capers returned after missing the previous season due to injury and contributed 29 tackles and a sack while playing in every game.
In 2022, Michael Owusu played in all 12 games with a season-best nine tackles against Missouri. Haye also helped develop Darren Agu, a true freshman from London, who burst onto the scene with three hurries and a sack in his first season of college football.
The 2020 season had Haye help mold Dayo Odeyingbo into an All-SEC second-team selection. Odeyingbo, who went on to be a second-round selection in the 2021 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts, booked 32 tackles, 8.0 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. He finished tied for 10th in the league in tackles for loss and tied for sixth in sacks.
Haye also helped defensive tackle Raashaan Wilkins Jr. start all nine games, one of just six Commodores to do so, and book 2.0 tackles for loss and a fumble recovery against South Carolina.
In 2019, Haye, who in the same year was named an SEC Legend, mentored a young line that featured Odeyingbo and interior tackles Drew Birchmeier, Cameron Tidd and Daevion Davis.
In 2018, Haye assisted the defensive staff that worked with coordinator Jason Tarver.
Haye was a two-time captain and All-Southeastern Conference performer for the Commodores while starting 34 games on the defensive line from 2002-04.
As an All-SEC defensive end in 2003, Haye was a Nagurski Award and Hendricks Trophy candidate, registering 76 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss and 8.5 quarterback sacks. That year, he set a modern team record with 4.5 tackles for loss at TCU, a performance that included three sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception.
As a senior, Haye finished with 48 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and a sack. He ended his Vanderbilt career with 11.5 sacks and 17 tackles for loss among 149 tackles.
Haye was selected in the sixth round of the 2005 NFL Draft by Carolina. He played for one season with the Panthers before moving on to the Cleveland Browns for the 2006 season. Later in 2006, he joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he played three seasons. In Tampa Bay, Haye started 30 games at defensive tackle, earning 118 tackles and six quarterback sacks.
After the 2008 season, Haye signed with Tennessee, playing the 2009-10 seasons with the Titans. He played part of the 2011 season with the Detroit Lions. During his NFL career, Haye registered 6.5 quarterback sacks among 185 tackles.
A native of Mandeville, Jamaica, who moved to the United States in the first grade, Haye started as a lineman at Dillard High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, before signing with the Commodores. He earned a bachelor’s degree in human and organizational development from Vanderbilt in 2007.
Haye and his wife, Jennifer, have four girls: Jorielle, Jaiana, Janiyah and Jubilee.
The Haye File
Hometown: Mandeville, Jamaica
High School: Dillard [Fort Lauderdale, Florida]
College: Vanderbilt (human and organizational development, 2007)
Wife: Jennifer
Children: Daughters – Jorielle, Jaiana, Janiyah, Jubilee
Playing Experience
2002-04 • Vanderbilt (Defensive Lineman)
2005 • Carolina Panthers
2006 • Cleveland Browns
2006 • Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2007 • Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2008 • Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2009 • Tennessee Titans
2010 • Tennessee Titans
2011 • Detroit Lions
Coaching Career
2018 • Vanderbilt • Quality Control (Defense)
2019 • Vanderbilt • Defensive Line
2020 • Vanderbilt • Defensive Line
2021 • Vanderbilt • Defensive Ends
2022 • Vanderbilt • Defensive Ends