JEROD MAYO Round 1, No. 10 overall Linebacker University of Tennessee Volunteers 6-1, 242 lbs Hampton, Virginia Kecoughtan High School OVERVIEW The Volunteers defense has struggled quite a bit over the last few years. Entering the 2007 season, with just five starters returning to that unit, the coaching staff felt it was time to spread the Mayo and take advantage of the athletic skills, tackling ability and ball reaction ability of their best player Jerod Mayo. Moving from weak-side outside linebacker to the middle, the junior brought intensity to the Tennessee front seven and a leader who made sure the youngsters played football the Volunteer way. Mayo went on to register 140 tackles in 2007, the most by a Tennessee defender since Earnest Fields registered those same totals for the Volunteers in 1990. Physical playing inside the box, his excellent range and quick burst as a blitzer saw him collect 21 tackles behind the line of scrimmage during his last two seasons at the university. Mayo is a student of the game, spending countless hours working on his skills after practice and watching game film. Yet, he has that natural feel on the field that generally has him right in position to make the play. At Kecoughtan High School, Mayo lettered three times in football as a linebacker and a running back. He was a Prep Star All-American and 2003 Defensive Player of the Year in the Virginia Peninsula area. He added All-State and first-team All-District honors as a senior. He was rated by Super Prep as the sixthbest overall prospect in Virginia and received a three-star prospect ranking by TheInsiders.com, as that service rated him the 25th-best linebacker prospect in the nation. He also ranked 11th in the country at outside linebacker and received a four-star prospect ranking from Rivals.com. As a senior, Mayo recorded 110 tackles, including 18 for loss, and two interceptions. He also played running back for seven games, picking up 1,245 rushing yards and scoring 13 touchdowns and five twopoint conversions during his final campaign. He was a first-team All-District, All-Area and All-Region choice as junior in 2002 while recording 68 tackles including 22 for loss, four interceptions and three sacks. Mayo redshirted at Tennessee in 2004. The following season, he appeared in six games at weak-side outside linebacker. He finished with thirteen tackles (10 solos). In 2006, Mayo was a Rivals.com All-American second-team choice. He finished third on the team with 83 tackles (48 solos) from the weak-side linebacker position. He added five sacks, 12.5 stops for losses, a pass deflection and a fumble recovery. After the Outback Bowl, he underwent left knee arthroscopic surgery. Moved to middle linebacker, the All-American and All-Southeastern Conference selection had a banner 2007 campaign. He produced 140 tackles (79 solos) with 1.5 sacks and 8.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage. He added five pressures with a forced fumble and also had his first interception, returning that pass theft for a touchdown.
In 36 games at Tennessee, Mayo started 24 contests. He recorded 236 tackles (137 solos) with six quarterback pressures, 6.5 sacks for minus 51 yards and 21 stops for losses of 82 yards. He recovered and caused a fumble, as he deflected three passes and intercepted another for a 34-yard touchdown return. CAREER NOTES Mayo s 140 tackles in 2007 were the most by a Tennessee player since Earnest Fields had 140 hits in 1990 His 61 assisted tackles in 2007 were the most by a Volunteer defender since Carl Zander had 65 during the 1984 campaign His nineteen tackles vs. Kentucky in 2007 were the Mayo s nineteen tackles were the most by a Tennessee player since Keith DeLong had 23 vs. Alabama in 1988. 2007 SEASON All-American second-team choice by The NFL Draft Report Consensus All-Southeastern Conference firstteam selection Member of the SEC Good Works Team Moved to middle linebacker, starting all fourteen games Recorded a career-high 140 tackles (79 solos), the most stops by a Tennessee defender since Earnest Fields 140 hits in 1990 Had 1.5 sacks for minus 11 yards, 8.5 stops for losses of 31 yards and five quarterback pressures Caused a fumble and batted away two passes Returned an interception 34 yards for a touchdown Served as the defensive squad s co-captain Registered 62 tackles during his final four contests. 2007 GAME ANALYSIS California Mayo made his first career start at middle linebacker, responding with ten tackles (9 solos), a stop for a loss and a pressure Took down tailback Justin Forsett for a 2-yard loss on a rushing attempt near midfield five minutes into the game Opposition s Running Game-230 yards and two touchdowns on 37 carries (6.2 avg). Southern Mississippi The Vols middle linebacker posted three solo tackles and killed a late first quarter series by pressuring Jeremy Young into throwing a third-&-4 incomplete pass and later in the third quarter, he caused a fumble by stripping the ball from Tory Harrison on a third-&-1 run at the UT 45, as Tennessee recovered the ball, setting up a 9-yard touchdown run by tailback Arian Foster Assisted in sacking Young for a 4-yard loss on a second-&-goal snap at the UT 3 at the start of the fourth quarter Opposition s Running Game-90 yards on 32 attempts (2.8 avg). Arkansas State Registered another six tackles, including one that took down Reggie Arnold for no gain on a first-&-goal run at the UT 3 three minutes into the game His pressure on QB Corey Leonard resulted in an interception by the Vols Brent Vinson, setting up a 5-yard touchdown run by Tennessee s Arian Foster late in the second quarter Opposition s Running Game-178 yards and a touchdown on 31 rushes (5.7 avg). Georgia Mayo produced eleven tackles (10 assists), including one that stopped tailback Knowshon Moreno for no gain on a first-&-goal run at the UT 2 Opposition s Running Game-69 yards on 25 attempts (2.8 avg). Mississippi State Mayo had four solo tackles as the defense allowed 338 yards Opposition s Running Game-135 yards and a touchdown on 36 carries (3.8 avg). Alabama The Volunteer linebacker registered eleven tackles (9 solos) Tackled QB John Parker Wilson after the passer recovered his own fumble and gained 8 yards before Mayo brought him down at the UT 33 early in the second quarter Stopped Terry Grant on a third-&-6 fourth quarter run that netted 3
yards, bringing about an Alabama punt Opposition s Running Game-147 yards and a touchdown on 38 attempts (3.9 avg). South Carolina Mayo came up with eleven tackles (5 solos), including a 9-yard sack of QB Chris Smelley on a third-&-7 snap at the UT 42, forcing a SC punt on the Gamecocks game-opening drive Assisted in tackling Mike Davis for a 2-yard loss on a run at the SC 35 in the second quarter Opposition s Running Game-171 yards and two touchdowns on 39 carries (4.4 avg). Louisiana-Lafayette The Tennesse defensive co-captain totaled seven tackles, as he pressured Mic Desormeaux on the QB s third-&-10 incomplete pass midway through the first quarter, forcing ULL to punt Assisted in taking down Tyrell Fenroy for a 1-yard loss in the second quarter Opposition s Running Game-234 yards and a touchdown on 48 attempts (4.9 avg). Arkansas Mayo followed with nine tackles and also had his first career interception, stepping in front of a Nathan Emert pass at the Arkansas 34 for a 34-yard touchdown return with 2:46 left in a 34-13 triumph Opposition s Running Game-127 yards and a touchdown on 36 carries (3.5 avg). Vanderbilt Against the Commodores, Mayo posted fifteen tackles (7 solos) and 2.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage, but was also penalized for grabbing a face mask in the first quarter Stopped Jeff Jennings for a 3-yard loss near midfield on the first series of the second half Sniffed out Mackenzie Adams screen pass to Cassen Jackson-Garrison, taking down the tailback for a 4-yard loss and later on that late fourth quarter drive, he also stopped Jennings for minus 4 yards at the UT 35 Opposition s Running Game-131 yards on 41 attempts (3.2 avg). Kentucky Mayo was in on a career-high nineteen tackles (11 solos), as he assisted on a sack and broke up two passes, earning SEC Player of the Week honors He leveled tailback Rafael Little for a 1-yard loss on a rushing attempt during the game s opening series At the start of the second quarter and with 6:03 left in the first half, Little was taken down for no gain by Mayo on two other carries He also killed an early fourth quarter series, forcing UK to punt after sacking QB Andre Woodson for a 4-yard loss on a third-&-8 snap at the UT 40 Record Watch-Mayo s nineteen tackles were the most by a Tennessee player since Keith DeLong had 23 vs. Alabama in 1988 Opposition s Running Game-134 yards and one touchdown on 48 carries (2.8 avg). Louisiana State (SEC Championship) Mayo posted fifteen tackles (8 solos), including one that stopped QB Ryan Perrilloux for a 6-yard loss at the UT 13 on a bootleg three minutes into the game At the start of the fourth quarter, he pressured Perrilloux into throwing a third-&-12 incomplete pass, forcing LSU to punt 212 yards on 47 carries (4.5 avg). Wisconsin (Outback Bowl) Mayo closed out his career with thirteen solo tackles and a pass deflection in a 21-17 decision He stopped Garrett Graham on a third-&-7 pass that netted 6 yards, forcing the Badgers to punt early in the second quarter Early in the second half, he stopped Zach Brown for no gain on a rushing attempt and on third-&-2, he deflected a Tyler Donovan pass, resulting in a Wisconsin punt Opposition s Running Game-192 yards and a touchdown on 41 attempts (4.7 avg). 2006 SEASON Rivals.com All-American second-team selection Mayo started eleven contests at weak-side outside linebacker Finished third on the team with 83 tackles (48 solos), including five sacks for minus 40 yards, 12.5 stops for losses of 51 yards and a quarterback pressure Recovered one fumble and deflected a pass.
2005 SEASON Appeared in six games, starting vs. Florida at weak-side outside linebacker Registered thirteen tackles (10 solos). 2005 GAME HIGHLIGHTS Made his college debut with six tackles (4 solos) vs. Alabama-Birmingham Added a pair of solo tackles in his first career start, vs. Florida Made a solo hit vs. Georgia and posted four tackles (3 solos) in the Alabama clash. 2004 SEASON Redshirted as a freshman. HIGH SCHOOL Attended Kecoughtan (Hampton, Va.) High School, playing football for head coach Tommy Austin Lettered three times in football as a linebacker and a running back Prep Star All-American and 2003 Defensive Player of the Year in the Virginia Peninsula area Added All-State and first-team All- District honors as a senior Rated by Super Prep as the sixth-best overall prospect in Virginia Received a three-star prospect ranking by TheInsiders.com, as that service rated him the 25th-best linebacker prospect in the nation Also ranked 11th in the country at outside linebacker and received a four-star prospect ranking from Rivals.com As a senior, Mayo recorded 110 tackles, including 18 for loss, and two interceptions Also played running back for seven games, picking up 1,245 rushing yards and scoring 13 touchdowns and five two-point conversions during his final campaign First-team All-District, All-Area and All-Region choice as junior in 2002 while recording 68 tackles including 22 for loss, four interceptions and three sacks. PERSONAL Criminology major, earning Southeastern Conference Freshman Academic Honor Roll recognition in 2004 Born 2/23/86 Resides in Hampton, Virginia. PLAYER STATISTICS DEFENSIVE STATISTICS STATS GP GS TK SO AS FR FC INT TFL PBU SACK PRES 2005 06 01 13 10 3 0 0 0 0.0-0 0 0.0-0 0 2006 12 11 83 48 35 1 0 0 12.5-51 1 5.0-40 1 2007 14 14 140 79 61 0 1 1 8.5-31 2 1.5-11 5 TOTAL 32 26 236 137 99 1 1 1 21.0-82 3 6.5-51 6 INTERCEPTION RETURNS STATS NO YARDS AVG TD LONG 2007 1 34 34.0 1 34
MAYO GAME-BY-GAME LOG 2007 Season Date Opponent Score Played Int. Ret. Tackles Sacks PBU FC Pres No Yds TD Ast Solo Asst Solo Loss Ast Solo Yards Loss Loss Yds California 09/01/07 at California 31-45 Yes 0 0 0 1 9 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 Southern 09/08/07 Southern 39- Miss. Miss. 19 Yes 0 0 0 0 3 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 Florida 09/15/07 at Florida 20-59 Yes 0 0 0 3 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Arkansas 09/22/07 Arkansas St. 48- St. 27 Yes 0 0 0 5 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 Georgia 10/06/07 Georgia 35-14 Yes 0 0 0 10 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 at Mississippi 33-10/13/07 Mississippi St. 21 St. Yes 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Alabama 10/20/07 at Alabama 17-41 Yes 0 0 0 2 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 South 10/27/07 South 27- Carolina Carolina 24 Yes 0 0 0 6 5 0 1 9 0 1 9 0 0 0 La.- 11/03/07 La.- Lafayette Lafayette 59-7 Yes 0 0 0 3 4 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 Arkansas 11/10/07 Arkansas 34-13 Yes 1 34 1 7 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Vanderbilt 11/17/07 Vanderbilt 25-24 Yes 0 0 0 8 7 1 2 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 Kentucky 11/24/07 at Kentucky 52-50 Yes 0 0 0 8 11 1 1 3 1 0 2 2 0 0 LSU 12/01/07 at LSU 14-21 Yes 0 0 0 7 8 0 1 6 0 0 0 0 0 1 Wisconsin 01/01/08 Wisconsin 21-17 Yes 0 0 0 0 13 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 Season Totals 1 34 1 60 80 3 7 31 1 1 11 3 1 5
2006 Season Date Opponent Score Played Tackles Sacks PBU FC Pres Ast Solo Asst Solo Loss Ast Solo Yards Loss Loss Yds California 09/02/06 California 35-18 Yes 2 5 0 3 20 0 3 20 1 0 0 Air Force 09/09/06 Air Force 31-30 Yes 4 6 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 Florida 09/16/06 Florida 20-21 Yes 4 6 0 2 13 0 1 12 0 0 0 Marshall 09/23/06 Marshall 33-7 Yes 2 10 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 Memphis 09/30/06 at Memphis 41-7 Yes 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Georgia 10/07/06 at Georgia 51-33 Yes 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Alabama 10/21/06 Alabama 16-13 Yes 5 7 0 2 9 0 1 8 0 0 0 South Carolina 10/28/06 at South Carolina 31-24 Yes 3 6 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 LSU 11/04/06 LSU 24-28 Yes 5 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Arkansas 11/11/06 at Arkansas 14-31 Yes 2 4 1 2 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 Vanderbilt 11/18/06 at Vanderbilt 39-10 Yes 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Kentucky 11/25/06 Kentucky 17-12 No 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Penn St. 01/01/07 at Penn St. 10-20 Yes 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Season Totals 30 53 3 11 51 0 5 40 1 0 1 2005 Season Date Opponent Score Played Tackles Sacks PBU FC Pres Ast Solo Asst Solo Loss Ast Solo Yards Loss Loss Yds UAB 09/03/05 UAB 17-10 Yes 2 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Florida 09/17/05 at Florida 7-16 Yes 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 LSU 09/26/05 at LSU 30-27 Yes 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Mississippi 10/01/05 Mississippi 27-10 No 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Georgia 10/08/05 Georgia 14-27 Yes 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Alabama 10/22/05 at Alabama 3-6 Yes 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 South Carolina 10/29/05 South Carolina 15-16 Yes 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Notre Dame 11/05/05 at Notre Dame 21-41 No 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Memphis 11/12/05 Memphis 20-16 No 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Vanderbilt 11/19/05 Vanderbilt 24-28 No 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Kentucky 11/26/05 at Kentucky 27-8 No 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Season Totals 3 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0