Argyle Star QB Ruled Eligible to Play Again by UIL

AUSTIN, TX — The University Interscholastic League State Executive Committee unanimously ruled Thursday that Argyle junior quarterback Hayes Hackney is immediately eligible for varsity competition, according to a report by Texas Football.

Hackney, who leads the Dallas-Fort Worth area in passing yards in Class 5A, missed one game after the District 3-5A Division II Executive Committee ruled 6-0 that he violated Section 443 of the UIL Constitution and Contest Rules by not residing in Argyle's attendance zone.

The State Executive Committee's ruling followed a dispute over the Hackney family's move from Prosper to Argyle in January 2026 and the sale of their former home.

The district committee initially ruled 4-2 on May 19 that Hackney had not transferred for athletic purposes and was eligible to play football at Argyle. However, anonymous emails sent to committee members this fall prompted a new hearing Oct. 20 to examine whether Hackney actually lived within Argyle's attendance zone.

At the October hearing, Lewisville Associate Athletic Director Colby Lewis, speaking on behalf of the district committee, said members questioned the timing of the family's efforts to lease its Prosper home on Oct. 14 and arrange additional showings after the anonymous emails surfaced.

"The biggest concern communicated by the committee was that the steps they (the Hackney family) took to being compliant were reactionary to the anonymous emails," Lewis said. "They had concerns on the timeline, and a lot of questions regarding the private showing and how much the (Prosper) house was listed for."

The Hackney family previously said the Prosper property was marketed as a Private Exclusive Listing because of the neighborhood's exclusivity and price range, making it difficult to sell.

At Thursday's hearing, family attorney Brian Wclslo said the home had remained on the market since December 2025, predating the concerns raised by the district committee.

"The December 8, 2025 broker agreement predates that concern," Wclslo said. "Also, the house was continuously listed from December 8 until present. So there are no reactions."

The committee also questioned a Sept. 30 update to the property's private listing. Family Realtor Victoria DeLaCruz said at the Oct. 20 hearing that the update was related to her company, Coldwell Banker, being purchased and migrating its websites.

The State Executive Committee praised Argyle ISD for conducting extensive home visits at the family's Argyle residence and documenting the process.

"I'm having a hard time finding any reason to say that these folks do not reside in the Argyle school district," committee chair Mike Motheral said.

Motheral also emphasized that Thursday's hearing concerned residency, not whether Hackney's transfer was motivated by athletics. He criticized the district committee for not addressing athletic purpose during its initial May hearing.

"Your District Executive missed the boat on this back in May," Motheral said. "It was considered then whether or not it was an athletic move."

Committee member James Colbert also said the residency question was straightforward, noting that the family's former home could not establish their current residence if someone else was living there.

Hackney, 16, read a prepared statement expressing frustration over the ruling that sidelined him.

"I've done everything I was supposed to do. I followed my parents and family to Argyle. I've gone to school, worked hard, and followed the rules," Hackney said. "But, somehow, I've been ruled ineligible, and nobody can explain to me why."

Hackney moved to Argyle after spending his freshman and sophomore seasons at Prosper Walnut Grove, where he helped lead the school to back-to-back district championships.

The family said the move was made to bring Hackney's mother, Cristina, closer to her ailing parents, for whom she was the primary caretaker, and to bring his father, Mark, closer to his real estate development business in Fort Worth.

Through eight games, Hackney has completed 74% of his passes for 2,570 yards, 32 touchdowns and two interceptions. He has been offered by NCAA Division I schools UTSA and Stephen F. Austin.