Taylor Mays Position: Safety School: USC Height: 6’3 1/8" Weight: 230 lbs Class: Senior 40 time: 4.31 Overall Grade: 6.74 Draft Projection: 1st/2nd round Fringe

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Defensive Back Specific Categories

Strengths

Displays rare combination of size and speed. Mays has the range to cover the field like a pro free safety but the size and physicality to hit like a strong safety. Does a good job breaking up passes and can read the quarterback’s eyes. Shows good instincts. Solid in run support. Good open field tackler and can provide the big hit. Mays can run with most wide receivers and should be able to at the next level. Flips hips well to cover the field. Could play both strong and free safety in the NFL. A sure fire first round draft pick that will more than likely blow folks away at the Combine.

Weaknesses

Mays had a disappointing senior season. Could have been a first round draft pick had he declared after his junior season but decided to stay. Didn’t show the same aggressiveness during his senior season as he did the first three years. Seemed to lack concentration at times, especially when it came to tackling. That being said, the entire USC team looked flat for 2009 and played below their talent level. Mays had a rough time at the Senior Bowl in practice and his ability to gather himself, flip his hips and cover the field was exposed. There are questions with Mays’ work ethic.

Analysis

Mays was highly recruited coming out of O’Dea high school in Seattle, Washington and chose USC over Washington and Michigan. Mays has been a starter almost the entire time at USC. During his freshman season, Mays filled in for the injured Josh Pinkard, and started the final 12 games of the year. Mays has been a starter ever since. Mays has a rare combination of size and speed. According to multiple sources, Mays has run sub 4.3 40 yard dash times while at USC. Plays the game with passion and isn’t afraid of contact. Should be a first round pick and an immediate starter at the next level. Could project at both strong and free safety and can succeed playing both. Though he grades as a fringe first round player, he could be drafted much earlier due to potential and team need. Mays needs to work on his fundamentals when it comes to tackling and needs to do a better job using his physical skill set, especially when it comes to covering the field.

Experience

Mays is a four year starter at free safety for the Trojans.

Awards and Honors

2009: Walter Camp 1st team All-American, First team All-Pac 10, Finalist for Thorpe Award, Bednarik Award and Lott Award.
2008: Consensus All-American first teamer by Associated Press, Football Writers, Walters Camp, Sporting News, ESPN.com, SI.com, CBSSports.com, Phil Steele’s, Pro Football Weekly, and CollegeFootballNews.com. Second team All-American by Rivals.com. Was one of three finalists for the Thorpe Award. 2008 All-Pac-10 First team. Won USC’s Bob Chandler Award, which is awarded to underclassmen with superb on field and off-field qualities. 2008 Playboy Preseason All-American team.
2007: All-American first team by Sporting News. All-American second team by SI.com. All-American third team by the Associated Press. All-Pac-10 honorable mention.
2006: All-American second team by Sporting News. CollegeFootballNews.com Defensive Freshman of the Year. Sporting News, Rivals.com and Scout.com Freshman All-American first team. Pac-10 Co-Freshman of the year.

Academics

Sociology major at USC.

Bloodlines

Father, Stafford Mays, played defensive lineman at Washington in 1978-79. Stafford then played in the NFL for St. Louis Cardinals (1980-86) and the Minnesota Vikings (1986-88).

Injuries

Mays had arthroscopic surgery on his ankle before the 2008 spring practices began.

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