SAM MAYES At a glance

Height/weight: 6-foot-3, 350 pounds
High School: Fitch (2000).
College: Oklahoma State. Education major.
Key stats: Became a full-time starter as a sophomore after starting three games a redshirt freshman. First-team All-Big 12 this season, helping Cowboys to a 7-5 record and a berth in the Alamo Bowl. Associated Press third-team All-America.
Strengths: Excellent size and strength. Punishing run blocker. Was a three-year starter for the Cowboys and faced top competition in Big 12. Good work ethic and attitude.
Weaknesses: Weight is a concern. Better run blocker than pass blocker. Broke leg in postseason all-star game and is not yet 100 percent. May fall out of draft because of leg injury and could sign as an undrafted free agent.
History lesson: Mayes would be the third Fitch player to play in the NFL. Rams kicker Jeff Wilkins, who also played at YSU, was signed as a free agent out of college and has played for Philadelphia, San Francisco and St. Louis. Mike Calhoun, a defensive lineman from Notre Dame, was drafted by Dallas but played for Tampa Bay and San Francisco. Matt Keller was on the Seahawks' roster, but did not play a regular season game. Longtime Fitch teacher John "Ace" Federovitch played for the Bears in 1941 and 1946. Federovitch went to high school in Pennsylvania.
Vindicator staff report