Taylor Mays

Infobox NCAA Athlete
name = Taylor Mays

---

caption = Mays makes the USC "V" for victory sign after a 2008 fall practice
college = Southern California
sport = Football
position = Free Safety
jersey = 2
class = Junior
career_start = 2006
nickname =
height_ft = 6
height_in = 3
weight_lb = 230
nationality =flag|United States
birth_date = birth date and age|1988|2|7
birth_place = Seattle, WA
highschool = O'Dea High School, Seattle, Washington
former_school(s)=
awards = 2007 Sporting News First Team All-American
2006 Sporting News Second Team All-American

Taylor Mays (born February 7, 1988 in Seattle, Washington, U.S.) is a football free safety at the University of Southern California.

High school career

Mays is a graduate of O'Dea High School. Mays was named a 2005 Parade All-American and the Gatorade Washington player of the year. He also ran track where he was a 2-time state 3A champion in both the 100 and 200 meters. Following his high school career, Mays was invited to play in the 2006 U.S. Army All-American Bowl. Mays elected to go to USC, crediting the personality and style of Coach Pete Carroll as a major factor in his decision.Bob Condotta, [http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/huskies/2003906338_uwfbnotes27.html UW Football Notebook | Carroll was key to Mays leaving] , "The Seattle Times", September 27, 2007.]

Collegiate career

Mays got the start at free safety his freshman year after Josh Pinkard went down with a season ending injury in their first game against Arkansas. Throughout the year he was a solid safety recording 62 tackles (60 coming in his 12 starts) and a team-best 3 interceptions.Todd Milles, [http://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/colleges/story/161167.html Road trip is trip home] , "The News Tribune", September 21, 2007.] Mays became the third Trojan named the Pac-10’s co-freshman of the year.Todd Milles, [http://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/colleges/story/161167.html Road trip is trip home] , "The News Tribune", September 21, 2007.] In the Spring 2007 practice, Mays ran a 4.25 second 40-yard dash, making him the fastest player on the Trojans.Bob Condotta, [http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/huskies/2003906338_uwfbnotes27.html UW Football Notebook | Carroll was key to Mays leaving] , "The Seattle Times", September 27, 2007.]

He returned as starter at free safety in 2007, with Pinkard being converted to cornerback. He was named an All-American by The Sporting News for his stellar play in the 2007 season, he was also selected to the SI.com All-American Second Team. [http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/football/ncaa/12/10/all.americas/index.html SI.com's All-Americas] , SI.com, December 11, 2007.] The Pac-10 Conference also commended him, naming him All-Pac-10 Honorable Mention for the free safety position. Mays goes into the 2008 season being one of the nation's top safety prospects for the 2009 NFL Draft.

Before the 2008 season, "ESPN The Magazine" named Mays one of college football's top two "workout warriors" for running an electronically timed 40 this spring in 4.32 seconds, doing 26 reps with 225 pounds, having a vertical jumping 41 inches, and doing a standing broad jump of 11-4 with a 6-3, 226 pound frame with 6 percent body fat. He entered USC weighing 215 and posted a vertical jump of 35 inches and a broad jump of 10-0.Bruce Feldman, [http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/columns/story?columnist=feldman_bruce&id=3420212 College football's top workout warriors] , "ESPN The Magazine", June 9, 2008, Accessed June 9, 2008.]

Personal

Taylor's father, Stafford Mays, is a Microsoft executive and his mother is a Nordstrom executive. The Taylor family lives in Magnolia neighborhood of Seattle.Todd Milles, [http://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/colleges/story/161167.html Road trip is trip home] , "The News Tribune", September 21, 2007.] Stafford Mays also played defensive end for Lincoln High, Mt. Hood Community College, University of Washington (1978-79) and in the NFL from 1980 to 1988. As a child, Mays attended many Huskies games with his dad at nearby Husky Stadium.Bob Condotta, [http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/huskies/2003906338_uwfbnotes27.html UW Football Notebook | Carroll was key to Mays leaving] , "The Seattle Times", September 27, 2007.] Taylor's mother is Jewish, and he has had a bar mitzvah.Gary Klein, [http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/1186944521.html?dids=1186944521:1186944521&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Dec+29%2C+2006&author=Gary+Klein&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&edition=&startpage=D.1&desc=Coming+of+age%3B+Football+success+is+an+article+of+faith+for+Taylor+Mays%2C+a+starting+safety+as+a+USC+freshman+who+traces+his+uncommon+maturity+to+studying+for+his+bar+mitzvah Coming of age] , "Los Angeles Times", December 29, 2006.] [Mark Saxon, [http://www.ocregister.com/sports/mcknight-griffen-sarkisian-1849041-people-games USC freshmen struggle] , "The Orange County Register", September 19, 2007.]

References

External links

* [http://usctrojans.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/mays_taylor00.html USC Trojans Player Biography: Taylor Mays]