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Taylor Mays Named Pac-10 Defensive Player Of The Week
Nov. 10, 2008
USC junior safety Taylor Mays was named the Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in USC's 17-3 victory over California. Mays had 5 tackles (4 were solo) and 4 pass breakups, including several with bone-crunching hits on Cal receivers. He helped spearhead a USC defense that did not allow a touchdown from a California offense that entered the game averaging 36.4 points per game. It marked the first time a Jeff Tedford-coached Cal team did not score a touchdown in a game. It was the fifth time in 2008 that USC did not allow a touchdown in a game. The Trojan defense limited the Golden Bears to 13 first downs and 165 yards total offense (27 rushing, 138 passing) while converting just 5-of-14 first downs and posted 4 quarterback sacks (-34 yards). On the year, Mays--a 2007 All-American first teamer who is a 2008 Thorpe Award semifinalist--has 41 tackles and 7 deflections. Oregon State tailback Jacquizz Rodgers (offense) and Arizona State placekicker Thomas Weber (special teams) also were named Pac-10 Players of the Week. This is the seventh time a Trojan has won Pac-10 Player of the Week honors in 2008, with quarterback Mark Sanchez winning 3 times (following the Virginia, Ohio State and Oregon games) and once each by linebacker Rey Maualuga (for the Ohio State game), defensive tackle Fili Moala once (for the Arizona State game) and placekicker David Buehler (for the Washington game).
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