Seahawks Hot Prospect: Corey Mays

Although the Seahawks have found their MLB of the future in Lofa Tatupu, the team has been talking to Notre Dame's Corey Mays. Mays is a high-character run-stuffer with a lot of potential, and ColtPower.com's Ed Thompson recently caught up with him in this exclusive interview.

SOUTH BEND, IN - NOVEMBER 12: Corey Mays #46 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish gets ready to move at the snap during the game against the Navy Midshipman on November 12, 2005 at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame defeated Navy 42-21. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Q:  Corey, tell us a little bit about your family background…

A:  I grew up on the Southside of Chicago.  Three older brothers who have made me who I am today through many hours and days of torture (laughs).  Two parents who both loved to educate me and were very adamant about school and academics.

Q:  Did that carry over into football?

A:  Definitely.  It’s about striving for perfection and striving to do things the right way and go all out and put everything into it.

Q: Give us a little background on your college career from your perspective - how it started, how you progressed through your senior year.

A:  I started off as a highly touted linebacker coming out of Chicago out of the Morgan Park High School, to give it a little notoriety.  It’s been a long road.  I’m just trying to find a place and just go out there and be somebody and make a name for myself.

Q:  How did you end up choosing Notre Dame?

A:  Once you get into the recruiting process everyone says the same things, so you try to look for ‘what you can do for me after college?’ and once you visit Notre Dame, there’s just something different about it.  That’s what everyone says, everyone who commits here.

Q: At linebacker, do you have a preference - inside/outside, weakside/strongside?

A:  Really, just playing.  It doesn’t really matter to me, the inside is where all the action is, but I can play anywhere.

Q:  Why do you feel inside is where your strength is?

A:  Just more familiar with it - more experience there.

Q:  Did you play linebacker in high school or did you play some other positions?

A:  I played linebacker in high school, but I also played running back, fullback and defensive end.

Q:  Do you feel you’re stronger against the run than the pass?

A:  I feel I just work to be equally good at both.

Q:  What would you say your strengths are on the football field?

A:  Intensity and leadership.  Trying to be in the right place at the right time and do my part.

Q:  What do you have the most fun doing when you’re playing football?

A:  Really just being with my teammates.  Just being out there.  Once you step on the field and you put on your helmet everything else in the world doesn’t matter anymore for the next three hours until the game is over.


Seahawks.NET Insiders can click here to read the rest of this interview. In Part Two, Corey talks about his upcoming team visits (yes, that means what you think it means...), his special teams experience, what he has encountered when interacting with NFL scouts, and the character that drives him ever forward.