Mays has started since his freshman year for coach Pete Carroll. He was a two time All American and in his junior season he was a Jim Thorpe Award Finalists (award for the best defensive back in the country). Not to mention he was doing this on the USC Trojans, arguably the best program in the last three years. In his first three seasons he has played in three Rose Bowls and won all three (one against my Illini). Not too shaby.
Some of you might be saying, this guy is Jewish? Oh yes he is. His father is former NFL defensive lineman Stafford Mays. He played for the Cardinals and the Vikings (where Pete Carroll was an assistant coach). His mother is Jewish. Mays even had a Bar Mitzvah. When asked about it he said, "I don't think at the time I really understood what it meant. Now, looking back on it, I feel like I have come a long way in regards to maturity and becoming an adult. I think it helped me do that."- www.usctrojans.com.
Football is starved for a really good Jewish player. Igor Olshansky starts and David Binn made the pro bowl, but neither of these guys are dominant. Now insert Mays. He is flashy, even wears the #2 in honor of Primetime Deon Sanders. And he is a good, really good. I am kvelling. Sports Illustrated did an early mock draft and Mays went fifth to the 49ers drawing comparisons to the great Ronnie Lott. So, why wouldn't TGR be obsessed with our first Jewish stud in the NFL since...Sid Luckman?
So TGR has found its guy. We will be following Mays throughout the season, throughout the draft, and throughout his (what looks to be) a hard hitting NFL career.
And Let Us Say...Amen.
- Jeremy Fine
Picture by: Bobak Ha'Eri
0 comments:
Post a Comment