Age: 23
College: Washington State
Height: 5’11” Weight: 201
Prelude:
Lightly regarded coming out
of college, Mayes was taken in the third round of the 1986 NFL draft as one of
three running backs that the team took with its five available picks in the
first three rounds, behind Dalton Hilliard. Nevertheless, the Canadian native
moved past Hilliard and into the starting lineup in Week 5. Despite an Achilles
tendon injury that nagged him all year, he proved to be a surprise star with
his quick acceleration.
1986 Season Summary
Appeared in all 16 games
[Bracketed numbers indicate
league rank in Top 20]
Rushing
Attempts – 286 [7]
Most attempts, game - 33
(for 157 yds.) vs. New England 11/30
Yards – 1353 [4]
Most yards, game – 203 yards
(on 28 carries) vs. Miami
12/7
Average gain – 4.7 [3]
TDs – 8 [10, tied with five others]
200-yard rushing games – 1
100-yard rushing games – 6
Pass Receiving
Receptions – 17
Most receptions, game – 3
(for 7 yds.) vs. Washington
10/5
Yards – 96
Most yards, game - 25 (on 2
catches) vs. New England 11/30
Average gain – 5.6
TDs – 0
Kickoff Returns
Returns – 10
Yards – 213
Most yards, game – 55 (on 3
ret.) vs. Green Bay 9/14, (on 2 ret.) at Atlanta 12/14
Avg. – 21.3
TDs – 0
Longest return – 34 yards
All-Purpose yards – 1662 [7]
Scoring
TDs – 8
Points – 48
Awards & Honors:
NFL Rookie of the Year: NEA,
Sporting News
NFL Offensive Rookie of the
Year: AP, PFWA
NFC Rookie of the Year: UPI
Pro Bowl
Saints went 7-9 to finish
fourth in the NFC West.
Aftermath:
Mayes bypassed the Pro Bowl
in order to have surgery on the injured Achilles tendon as quickly as possible
after the season, and while he came back with another Pro Bowl year in 1987
(917 rushing yards in the strike-interrupted season), he suffered a severe knee
injury that again required off-season surgery. A contract dispute resulted in a
holdout and Mayes split time with Hilliard in 1988 and another Achilles tendon
injury cost him all of the ’89 season. He came back to run for 510 yards in 1990
but was barely used in the last few games. Moving on to Seattle , he saw scant action and his career
came to an end in 1991. The promising rookie season proved to be the high point
for Mayes, and he ended up rushing for a total of 3484 yards on 866 carries
(4.0 avg.) with 23 touchdowns and catching 57 passes for 401 yards (7.0 avg.)
and no scores.
--
Rookie of the Year Profiles feature players who were named Rookie of the Year in
the NFL, AFL (1960-69), or USFL (1983-85) by a recognized organization (Associated
Press – Offense or Defense, Newspaper Enterprise Association, United Press
International, The Sporting News, or the league itself – Pepsi NFL Rookie of
the Year).
[Updated 2/8/14]
[Updated 2/8/14]
No comments:
Post a Comment