Malik Hayes, a defensive end who played in all 10 games with Davenport University last season, continues to rehab after he was struck by a car in November.

Hayes had been going through rehabilitation and physical therapy at Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital after his legs were shattered in an accident Nov. 17. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, his therapy has been done at his temporary Grand Rapids home the past month.

“Just a tremendous young man and everyone continues to pull for him because he’s a fighter,” Davenport coach Sparky McEwen said.

Hayes, 22, was hit by another vehicle as he and teammates Robert Clanton and Meekah Ben-Israel pushed a car toward a gas station on 68th Street in Gaines Township. The other two were uninjured.

Hayes underwent his seventh surgery on his legs last week.

McEwen, who lives about a block away from where the accident happened, arrived at the scene shortly after it happened and described Hayes’ leg injuries as “just awful.”

“I was told as I got there to be prepared because it was pretty bad - and it was,” he said.

A GoFundMe page has been established for Hayes, who came to Davenport from San Jose State as a grad transfer and has four classes left to complete his master’s degree in business management.

“He’s someone you can root for, and everyone is rooting for him,” McEwen said. “Great kid, always has a smile on his face and a very determined individual.”

The page seeks to support Hayes’ mother, Marian Green, who quit her job in Louisiana and relocated with her two small children to Grand Rapids to be with her son.

As of April 11, more than 150 donors had raised just over $8,000.

Hayes, who was at San Jose State through the 2016 season, made nine starts in his first season with the Panthers. He finished with 49 tackles, fifth on the team, along with eight tackles for a loss and two sacked. He has one season of eligibility left.

He attended high school at Grossmont.