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Taylor Mays: NFL Draft Profile

Posted on 14. Jan, 2010 by Brandon LaClair in Defensive Back, NFL Draft Player Profiles

We’ll take a look at USC safety Taylor Mays as he enters the 2010 NFL draft.  We’ll examine his college career and our expectations for his upcoming NFL career.

Strengths

• Versatility: Ability to stop the run along with his solid pass coverage.
• Speed: Outstanding speed for his size (6-3, 225 lbs)
• Physicality: Very intimidating, plays with a chip on his shoulder.

Weaknesses

• Tackling: Doesn’t always wrap up, tends to fixate on delivering the big hit.
• Playmaking ability: Plays with great intensity, but isn’t a playmaker; only five interceptions in his career.
• Discipline: Mays is raw, still more of a freak athlete than a football player; receivers can juke him at will; needs to play within himself to be successful at the next level.

(All statistical information retrieved from Wikipedia and draftcountdown.com)

Taylor Mays is a freakishly gifted free safety with raw power; lightning quick for his size with tremendous range.  While Mays is still learning the game, he is projected as the #6 overall pick on Mel Kiper’s big board.

As a freshman in 2006, Mays got his first start when Josh Pinkard was lost for the season due to injury in the season opener against Arkansas.  From there, Mays took off and never looked back; his freshman season filled the highlight reel as well as the stat sheet as Mays streaked across the field making play after play for the Trojans.  For the year, Mays racked up 62 tackles (38 solo) and three interceptions.  Mays’ made an unforgettable impact in his freshman season and expectations became increasingly high for the young star heading into his sophomore season at USC.

While Mays’ stats in his sophomore season didn’t live up to expectations, his reputation for being a hard hitter did.  It was Mays’ capability of acting as a “safety blanket” to the rest of the secondary that made him so valuable.  Mays’ presence alone would make the opposition think twice about challenging the secondary because he always made up the necessary ground to make a play on the ball.  Mays ended the season with 65 tackles (36 solo), six pass deflections, one forced fumble, and an interception.

Coming into Mays’ junior year at USC, he was regarded as one of the top prospects in the nation because of the success he enjoyed throughout his first two years.  Mays didn’t record an interception all season, but he was highly instrumental in leading the Trojans to the #2 overall defense in the nation.  Mays finished with 53 tackles (38 solo) and eight pass deflections (four coming against Cal), which landed him as a finalist for the Jim Thorpe award.  After his junior year, Mays was a considered as a first round lock for the 2009 draft, but opted to stay in school for his senior season.

Mays’ senior season was suppose to be the year where Mays would help lead USC to their third national title in nine years and make the transition from great player to superstar in college football.  Well, he was able to obtain one out of the two; USC finished a very disappointing 8-4; Mays set a career high in tackles with 88 (45 solo) and added another interception to his already impressive college resume.

Mays’ college career ended with 268 tackles, one forced fumble and five interceptions.

Entering the 2010 NFL draft, there is no question that athletically, Mays is one of the top prospects in the draft.  However, question marks in his playmaking ability seem to supersede his athletic prowess on the field.  Consider this, Mays started 50 games as a Trojan and only intercepted the ball five times.  This alarming stat has to be troubling for NFL owners, but Mays will be selected in the top half of the NFL draft based on the intangibles that made him such an outstanding college football player.  It’s our assertion that Mays will be a flop in the NFL as his athletic proficiency will be matched by NFL receivers.  Mays is compared to safeties that have always exemplified greatness; players such as Ronnie Lott, Adrian Wilson and Sean Taylor.  The difference between Mays and these players is that they were always able to make game-changing plays at will.  Mays must learn this imperative trait or his everlasting legacy will be 2010 NFL draft bust.

Related posts:

1. Eric Berry: NFL Draft Profile
2. Rolando McClain: NFL Draft Profile
3. Ndamukong Suh: NFL Draft Profile
4. Joe Haden: NFL Draft Profile
5. Dez Bryant: NFL Draft Profile

Tags: 2010 NFL Draft, Brandon LaClair, Bust, Fantasy Football, Featured, IDP, Mel Kiper, NFL Draft Bound, RookieBlitz.com, safety, Taylor Mays, USC