A powerfully built linebacker known for his outstanding performances in the training room and bone-jarring hits on the playing field.

Mays has the ability to generate explosion on contact and has had good success dislodging the ball from ballcarriers during his three years as a starter.

The 2007 Great West Football Conference Defensive Player of the Year has always been a tremendous hitter who turns heads with his "de-cleater" tackles. He has excellent quickness for his size and was the unquestioned defensive leader in the middle of the field. He has solid football instincts and is always around the action.

Mays was a standout linebacker at Hyde Park High School, where he was a two-time first- team All-Conference performer and a first team All-City selection for head coach Wesley Yates. He recorded 115 tackles his senior season, including 16 sacks and had a pair of interceptions. He also produced 110 tackles his junior campaign.

Mays enrolled at North Dakota State in 2003, spending the season with the scout team. He played in 11 games as a reserve inside linebacker and special-teamer in 2004. That season, he registered 45 tackles (28 solo) with three sacks and five stops for losses.

Mays earned first-team All-Great West Football Conference honors from the media and was chosen to Football Gazette's All-Region second-team in 2005. He took over middle linebacker chores, pacing the Bison with 83 tackles (48 solo). He added four sacks, 10.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage and eight pressures. He also picked off three passes and caused two fumbles.

The North Dakota State middle linebacker was limited at midseason by a groin injury, but still tied for the team lead with 67 tackles (38 solo) in 2006. He was again named to the All-GWFC first-team, as he had two sacks, five stops for losses and a forced fumble. He also broke up three passes.

The Great West Football Conference Defensive Player of the Year received All-American honors as a senior in 2007. He sat out the Southern Utah game with a hip strain, but still led the team with a career-high 90 tackles (45 solo), including 2 ½ sacks and nine stops for minus-32 yards. He deflected six passes and gained 49 yards on two kickoff returns.

Mays started 31 of 43 games at North Dakota State, recording 285 total tackles and a school-record 159 solo hits. He had 11 sacks for minus-90 yards, 29 ½ stops for losses of 131 yards and 12 quarterback pressures. He caused four fumbles, batted down 11 passes and intercepted three others for 29 yards in returns. He also gained 53 yards on three kickoff returns (17.7-yard average).

Positives: Lacks height, but has impressive upper-body muscle structure (sometimes gets too muscular), thick chest, broad shoulders, thick thighs and calves … Best flowing down the line and making plays on the move … Impact hitter on initial contact, showing good balance and adequate body control, sinking his weight properly to drive through the ballcarrier … Gets his teammates lined up, but is better reading keys on run plays than when working in the zone … Fires low off the snap and is combative with his hands in attempts to shed and split double teams … Has a low center of gravity to get under the pads of a lead blocker to clog the rush lane … Comes out of his stance and attacks the ballcarrier with good force and has the hand strength to dislodge the ball from the opponent … Brings his hips and drives hard with his legs to impede the forward progress of a ballcarrier … Good at stacking and controlling multiple blockers, which frees up his outside linebackers to make the play … Stays on his feet well, fighting throughout when working in traffic … Shows good leverage ability taking on offensive linemen … Solid wrapup tackler who will generally bring his man down once he gets a piece of the opponent … Reacts quickly and attacks runners when he sees the cutback lanes developing … Not the greatest, but can get decent pass depth in the short area … More of a bull rusher than a pass rusher, but has a good concept for taking angles that shorten his path to the quarterback … Has better vision on running plays, as he has that explosive initial step shooting the gaps … In pass coverage, he is capable of sticking to tight ends and slot backs -- not speed receivers -- as uses his hands to reroute.

Negatives: Lacks ideal height and, while that might help him slipping past blockers to shoot the gaps, he struggles to handle bigger receivers in jump-ball situations … Does not have the timed speed to get good depth in his pass drops and stay with the receivers throughout a route's progression … Needs to do a better job of timing his leaps when competing for the ball at its high point (will jump early or get knocked off-balance) … Has had some stamina issues, as he will run out of gas and disappear for long stretches … Better making his reads vs. the run, as he has just adequate vision and feel for passes into the zone … Height issues cause him to be late at times locating the inside runner working through trash … Not really sudden on downhill plays, lacking the burst to get to the outside running game … Has some hip stiffness in his pass drops and when changing direction working in space … Needs to show better explosion and urgency getting through the hole as a blitzer … Has an outstanding physique, but to maintain flexibility, he needs to keep his weight down and not try to build further muscle development (frame is maxed out and any more bulk will affect his quickness).

Compares To: LONDON FLETCHER-BAKER-Washington … Similar in size, their playing strength is the most impressive common trait between these 'backers. Mays looks like he could relieve Charles Atlas from holding the world on his shoulders, but that physique has also led to change-of-direction issues, as he sometimes gets overmuscular, looking stiff in his movements, especially when chasing down plays on the outside. Even if used only as a two-down performer, he could bring nice value late in the draft.

2006: Missed most of the Mississippi Valley State game (10/14) with a groin pull.

2007: Sat out the Southern Utah State game with a hip flexor strain.

Campus: 4.88 in the 40-yard dash … 385-pound bench press … 525-pound squat … 335-pound power clean … 30 1/8-inch arm length … 9 ¼-inch hands … Right-handed … 20/33 Wonderlic score.

Attended Hyde Park (Chicago, Ill.) Career Academy High School, playing football for head coach Wesley Yates … Two-time first-team All-Conference performer and a first team All-City selection … Recorded 115 tackles his senior season, including 16 sacks and had a pair of interceptions … Produced 110 tackles his junior campaign.

Physical Education major … Married, wife's name is LaToyia … Couple has a daughter, Joi (pronounced Joy) … Son of Renice Mays and Charles Williams … Born 7/06/85 … Resides in Chicago, Ill.