North Carolina FC is pleased to welcome a veteran footballer who has played both in the Tar Heel State and at the highest levels of soccer in the United States in midfielder Jacori Hayes. Hayes becomes the eighth new signing for North Carolina FC ahead of the return to the USL Championship and the club now has 17 players under contract for next season.
Get to know the newest member of North Carolina FC with our Quick Kicks series:
Carolina Comeback
Hayes was a four-year standout at Wake Forest University, where he played in 81 games, 72 starts, with 15 goals – including 10 game-winners – and 15 assists in 5,877 minutes from 2013-2016. He earned ACC All-Freshman Team honors in 2013, All-ACC first team and NSCAA All-Region second team honors as a junior in 2015. He repeated first team All-ACC honors as a senior, leading the Demon Deacons to an ACC Tournament title and appearance in the NCAA National Championship match.
MLS Experience
Hayes has six seasons of experience in MLS and a pair in the USL Championship. Overall, Hayes has 72 appearances and 3,143 minutes of MLS action with an 83.23% passing accuracy. He spent three seasons with both FC Dallas and Minnesota United in MLS before joining San Antonio FC for the 2023 season. Hayes was drafted in the first round of the 2017 MLS Super Draft by FC Dallas, where he played through the 2019 season. He scored a goal and added three assists across 38 appearances.
San Antonio Success
Hayes joined USL Championship club San Antonio FC for the 2023 season, where he logged 1,996 minutes and one assist across 28 appearances. Hayes won 53.1% of his duels and 61% of his tackles. He made 39 interceptions, won 39 aerial duels and held a 73.45% passing accuracy. Hayes also made 10 appearances, eight starts, on loan to the Tulsa Roughnecks in the USL in 2017.