Taylor Mays, FS

Mays entered the 2009 campaign among the most celebrated defensive prospects in recent history. High-profile mistakes in coverage and shoddy open-field tackling raised questions about how the All-American fits in the NFL.

A highly touted prep prospect, Mays started all but two games in his career for the Trojans and earned first-team All-American honors the past three seasons, a feat accomplished by only three other USC players (linebacker Richard Wood in 1972-74, quarterback Matt Leinart in 2003-05 and offensive tackle Sam Baker in 2005-07).

Some contend that his numbers over the past three seasons are actually a bit disappointing (276 tackles, 21 passes broken up, five interceptions, two tackles for loss) relative to the amount of attention he receives. But former USC head coach Pete Carroll preferred to keep Mays as a true centerfielder, which limits his chances to rack up huge stats.

Mays was used closer to the line in 2009 and posted a career-high 96 tackles (previous single-season best was 65 in 2007). He made few big plays, however, intercepting only one pass. Even more of a concern -- Mays consistently was too aggressive in his angles in coverage missed tackles in bunches, unforgiveable as the last line of defense for the Trojans.

Mays has the natural ability to rate as one of the real stars of the pre-draft workout circuit. With four years of film for scouts to grade, his overaggressiveness as a senior won't prove catastrophic to his final grade. His performance in 2009 might have knocked him out of the top 10, but his intimidating blend of size, speed and explosive hitting make him a first-round lock and immediate impact rookie.

Read & React: Good key-and-diagnose skills. Aggressive in run support, but disciplined and rarely out of position. Understands his role as the last line of defense and generally takes good angles to minimize big gains by opponents, but struggled some as a senior in this area. Mistakes typically occur when he overruns the play and doesn't account for the runner's cutback agility.

Man Coverage: Faster in a straight line than he is quick in a short area. Struggles laterally and loses a step in his transition due to tight hips. Rare recovery speed. Is a rangy defender and can blanket most deep receivers.

Zone Coverage: Controlled aggression in coverage makes him well suited for a zone scheme. Sees the action and reacts quickly. Loses a step in transition, but accelerates smoothly. Good change-of-direction skills. Reliable open-field tackler. Intimidating hitter over the middle.

Closing/Recovery: Rare straight-line speed for a man his size. Reads the action quickly and has great burst to close. Times his leaps well and uses his long arms to bat away passes. Would rather go for the big hit than compete for the ball. Has just five career interceptions -- three as a freshman -- despite 49 career starts.

Run Support: Has played deep in a zone scheme in the past, but flashes outstanding ability in run support. Good key-and-diagnose skills. Can elude blocks, but is willing to take them on and can discard due to his upper-body strength and long arms. Big hitter who runs downhill toward the line of scrimmage.

Tackling: Reliable open-field tackler. Breaks down well to make the secure stop. Explosive hitter who loves to intimidate opponents. Lowers his shoulder into the ballcarrier and can separate the football from the man. Leads with his shoulder on big hits, failing to wrap up securely.

Intangibles: Physically imposing athlete with good overall musculature. Freakish combination of size and straight-line speed. Carroll has publicly characterized Mays as USC's fastest player; has reportedly timed in the 4.2s at 230 pounds. Good bloodlines. Father, Stafford Mays, was a defensive lineman in the NFL (St. Louis Cardinals, Minnesota Vikings) from 1980-1988.

NFL Comparison: Sean Taylor

Entering 2009: The two-time All-American first-team pick is a leading candidate for the Thorpe Award. He returns for his fourth season as the Trojans' starting free safety.

With a USC-best 91 tackles in 2009, Mays is on pace to be just the fifth defensive back (and the first since Troy Polamalu in 2001) to lead the Trojans in tackles in a season since records were kept in 1954. His 91 stops are the most by a Trojan since linebacker Lofa Tatupu's 104 in 2004. In his career, Mays has 271 tackles and 5 interceptions.

Mays started for his third season at free safety as a junior in 2008 and had a highly-decorated season. Overall in 2008 while starting all 13 games, he had 53 tackles, including 2 for losses of 7 yards, and a team-high 9 deflections. He was named a 2008 consensus All-American first teamer (AP, Football Writers, Walter Camp, Sporting News, ESPN.com, SI.com, CBSSports.com, Phil Steele's, Pro Football Weekly, Collegefootballnews.com) and All-American second teamer (Rivals.com), was among 3 finalists for the 2008 Thorpe Award, made the 2008 All-Pac-10 first team and both Collegefootballnews.com and Phil Steele's All-Pac-10 first teams, and won USC's Bob Chandler Award. He had arthroscopic surgery on his ankle prior to 2008 spring practice. He was named to the 2008 Playboy Pre-Season All-American team.

He had a game-high 6 tackles (1.5 for losses) and a deflection at Virginia, added 8 stops against Ohio State and 6 tackles against both Oregon State and Oregon. He then had 2 tackles against Arizona State, 2 stops (0.5 for a loss at Washington State, 4 tackles at Arizona and 3 tackles and a deflection against Washington. He had 5 tackles and 4 deflections versus California to earn Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Week honors. He added 5 tackles at Stanford, 2 stops against Notre Dame and a tackle and deflection at UCLA. He added 4 tackles and a deflection versus Penn State.

After a decorated freshman season in 2006, Mays returned for his second season as the starting free safety as a sophomore in 2007 and continued his stellar play. Overall in 2007 while starting all 13 games, he had 65 tackles (third on USC), 1 interception, 6 deflections, 1 fumble recovery and 1 forced fumble. He was named a 2007 The Sporting News All-American first team, SI.com All-American second team, AP All-American third team, Jewish Sports Review All-American, Collegefootballnews.com Sophomore All-American second team, All-Pac-10 honorable mention and Rivals.com All-Pac-10 first team pick. He had 5 tackles versus Idaho, 6 stops and a deflection at Nebraska, 3 tackles against Washington State and 2 tackles at Washington. He added 2 tackles, 2 deflections and an interception (to set up an USC TD) against Stanford. He had 4 tackles and forced a fumble against Arizona, then had 5 stops at Notre Dame, a career-best 12 tackles at Oregon, 6 tackles against Oregon State and 10 tackles and 3 deflections (both team highs) at California. He had 4 tackles at Arizona State and 3 stops and a fumble recovery against UCLA. He had 3 tackles against Illinois.

Just a first-year freshman, Mays took over the free safety job in 2006 after Josh Pinkard suffered a season-ending injury in the opener and he ended up starting USC's final 12 games. Overall in 2006 while appearing in all 13 games, he had 62 tackles, a team-best 3 interceptions that he returned 40 yards (13.3 avg.) and 3 deflections. He made the 2006 The Sporting News All-American second team, Collegefootballnews.com Defensive Freshman of the Year, The Sporting News, Rivals.com Freshman and Scout.com All-American first teams and Rivals.com All-Pac-10 second team and was named Pac-10 Co-Freshman of the Year, The Sporting News Pac-10 Defensive Freshman of the Year and Rivals.com Pac-10 Freshman of the Year.

After getting 2 tackles at Arkansas, he had 5 tackles against Nebraska while starting for the first time at free safety. He then had 3 tackles at Arizona, 4 tackles, a deflection and an interception near the goal line on the game's last play at Washington State, 8 stops with a deflection against Washington and a tackle versus Arizona State. He made a game-best 11 tackles (with a deflection) at Oregon State, added 4 stops at Stanford, had 4 tackles and returned an interception 38 yards against Oregon and 6 tackles and an interception against California. He had 7 tackles against Notre Dame, 3 at UCLA and 4 versus Michigan.

Just a first-year freshman, Mays took over the free safety job in 2006 after Josh Pinkard suffered a season-ending injury in the opener and he ended up starting USC's final 12 games. Overall in 2006 while appearing in all 13 games, he had 62 tackles, a team-best 3 interceptions that he returned 40 yards (13.3 avg.) and 3 deflections. He made the 2006 The Sporting News All-American second team, Collegefootballnews.com Defensive Freshman of the Year, The Sporting News, Rivals.com Freshman and Scout.com All-American first teams and Rivals.com All-Pac-10 second team and was named Pac-10 Co-Freshman of the Year, The Sporting News Pac-10 Defensive Freshman of the Year and Rivals.com Pac-10 Freshman of the Year.

After getting 2 tackles at Arkansas, he had 5 tackles against Nebraska while starting for the first time at free safety. He then had 3 tackles at Arizona, 4 tackles, a deflection and an interception near the goal line on the game's last play at Washington State, 8 stops with a deflection against Washington and a tackle versus Arizona State. He made a game-best 11 tackles (with a deflection) at Oregon State, added 4 stops at Stanford, had 4 tackles and returned an interception 38 yards against Oregon and 6 tackles and an interception against California. He had 7 tackles against Notre Dame, 3 at UCLA and 4 versus Michigan.

Sociology major. His father, Stafford Mays, was a defensive lineman at Washington in 1978 and 1979 who then played in the NFL with the St. Louis Cardinals (1980-86) and Minnesota Vikings (1987-88 when current USC head coach Pete Carroll was an assistant coach there).