USC's Taylor Mays misses the cut for the Thorpe Award...

Not really surprising given how Mays has been used and how he has played...

It's not as if USC safety Taylor Mays needed extra motivation going into the final games of his career, but the senior probably got some Monday.

Mays, a two-time All-American, was not among the three announced finalists for the Thorpe Award, presented annually to college football's top defensive back.

Mays, a 2008 Thorpe finalist, had hoped to finish his career by joining 1989 winner Mark Carrier as the only Trojans to receive an award that was established in 1986.

But Mays suffered a knee injury against Ohio State that sidelined him for the Trojans' loss at Washington. And his only interception came against California in the fifth game of the season.

Disappointing...

But this really shows how the defense has floundered at times this season. Mays just never seemed to play at the level that we had expected for his senior season. Maybe that had to do with his knee injury or maybe it had to do with how he was used. It is really hard to know...

I do think that some of this had to do with his development. That is all on Ricky Seto...as the former DB coach and now Defensive Coordinator it is clear to me that Seto did not take Mays to the next level for his senior season. I understand that some of Mays' success in previous seasons was due to having Kevin Ellison back there with him but when Mays was put in Ellison's spot it became clear that Mays had some deficiencies in his game.

That more than anything hurts his draft stock for next years NFL draft.

This quote on the other hand bothers me a bit...(emphasis added)

Mays said the Trojans were "where we need to be" as they resumed practice. This will be Mays' fourth USC-UCLA game, but the Seattle native and son of a former Washington lineman remains more familiar with the Washington-Washington State rivalry.

"I didn't grow up a fan of USC or UCLA so it's not that big a deal to me. I know more about the Apple Cup," he said.

Excuse me?!?

Uh...better check that shit at the door this week. This is THE ONLY GAME THAT MATTERS to a lot of us!

I can see not letting one game have more emphasis than another but this a rivalry game and it matters to the fans and alums alike. A quote like this tends to make some wonder where Mays's head is. I understand not wanting to put up any bulletin board material but he can at least acknowledge that this game is kind of a big deal...especially with how SC has played the past few weeks.

Mays better have a great game that is all I can say...