Rumors of the USC defense’s demise in 2009 might be greatly exaggerated.
Despite the probability of being a first-round pick and the first safety off the board in April’s NFL draft, All-American Taylor Mays announced Tuesday that he will return for his senior season - giving a defense hit hard by graduation a major boost.
“Anytime you’ve got an experienced secondary, you’ve got a chance,” new Trojans defensive coordinator Rocky Seto said.
USC loses six members of its starting front seven but could bring back as many as five defensive backs with ample starting experience.
The for-sure returnees are Mays, who started every game for the nation’s top-ranked scoring defense; fellow safety Will Harris, who started five of the final six games in place of the injured and now departed Kevin Ellison; cornerback Kevin Thomas, who started twice and played regularly as part of a three-corner rotation; and cornerback Shareece Wright, who began 2008 as a starter before suffering a season-ending neck injury.
Senior Josh Pinkard, who started the final 11 games in place of Wright, plans to return to school if the NCAA grants him a sixth year of eligibility. Pinkard still was awaiting a response as of Tuesday.
Mays - who was expected to shoot up draft boards because of his combination of size (6-3, 230) and speed (sub.-4.3-second 40-yard dash time) — surprised many with his decision to return. Seto, also USC’s secondary coach, was not among them.
“He based this decision on what he wanted to do — he was true to his heart,” Seto said. “It’s easy to get caught up in what outsiders tell you to do. It was neat to see how he was able to maintain what was important to him.”
Mays said he wanted to improve as a player and leader and didn’t want to give up the fun of being in college, despite the prospect of signing a seven-figure contract.
“It’s tough,” he said. “I’m 20 years old. To have a million dollars when you’re 20 is a big temptation. I tried to make a mature decision. Hopefully I’ll look back one day as this being the best thing for me to do.”
Quarterback Mark Sanchez remained undecided about the draft as of Tuesday, said his father, Nick. The deadline to declare is Thursday.
More from the USC blog:
- USC football: Report says Sanchez going pro
- USC football: Bradford confirms it — he’s returning
- USC football: Reports say Sam Bradford staying in school
- USC football: Hazelton reportedly headed to Cincinnati
- USC football: Sanchez Watch nearing an end …
- USC football: Pinkard paperwork pending
- USC basketball: Washington back in action?
- USC football: Another coaching change (updated)
- USC football: Turner added to Senior Bowl roster
- USC football: Ex-Trojan Scoggins, 49, succumbs to ALS
- USC football: Taylor Mays makes it official — he’s back
- USC basketball: Revisiting DeRozan vs. Holiday
- USC football: A reason Mark Sanchez should stay
- USC football: Gable reportedly staying in school
- USC football: Sanchez’s dad — ‘It’s what Mark wants to do’
- USC football: Sanchez Watch 2009 continues
- USC basketball: Five observations from USC-UCLA
It will be interesting to compare USC’s 2009 defensive backfield against Florida’s 2009 defensive backfield. The Gators return four who very well may comprise the best unit in the nation. They will be quite strong.
Kudos to Mays! Now here’s a true leader and he get’s it. You can’t buy memories! Once again folks are speculating about the SC D. How quickly we forget!!!!
When Carson Palmer graduated, the media was doubtful about Lienart and whre they WRONG! I think the SC D will be surprisingly awesome! As for the Gators, yes, they will have a D to deal with. Many young player on their roster with experience returning in 2009! But don’t forget about the new TALENT coming in for SC in 2009!
GO SC!