Project Mayhem Going Pro

by BSD on Jan 9, 2009 2:03 PM EST in Football Comment 72 comments

Maybin3_medium

As suspected, Aaron Maybin will be declaring for the NFL draft.

Sources report to FightOnState.com that Penn State redshirt sophomore defensive end Aaron Maybin intends to make himself eligible for the 2009 NFL Draft.
Maybin reportedly informed Penn State head coach Joe Paterno and defensive line coach Larry Johnson of his decision Thursday night.

I don't think anyone can call this news shocking. It remains to be seen if Maurice Evans and Navorro Bowman will do the same.

0 recs | Comment 72 comments |

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

!#$%!#$%!#@$

can’t blame him, tho

World F#$king Champions

by psudrozz on Jan 9, 2009 2:07 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

can't belive im connecting the two

but is this an indication that LJ Sr. is leaving? i’d yes if navarro and evans leave.

World F#$king Champions

by psudrozz on Jan 9, 2009 2:08 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

LJSR hasn’t even interviewed for the Illinois job yet. Maybin had to make a decision by next Thursday. I think he just got a favorable report from the NFL draft advisory board and decided now is the time to cash in. You can’t blame him for it, and I don’t think it has anything to do with LJSR.

Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

by BSD on Jan 9, 2009 2:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

(breathing heavily in paper bag)

ok thx-makes sense

(goes back to breathing in bag)

World F#$king Champions

by psudrozz on Jan 9, 2009 2:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

All you who

called me crazy 6 weeks ago when I told you I had info that made him a lock to go pro can kiss my …

JoePa in '09

by JGuiher on Jan 9, 2009 2:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

wife?

i bet she’s hot

For the glory

by lionalum05 on Jan 9, 2009 3:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

MAN!...

I feel the same way…again VERY SELFISH HERE…but I want PSU DOMINATION this fall and he is a key asset!!!

Best of luck to Aaron!

" We need MORE cowbell !"

by BlueWhiteLife on Jan 9, 2009 2:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

good luck and make us proud and

SHOW ME THE MONEY!!!

We just needed a couple players, a couple people to buy in to the fact and we were able to do it. --A.Q. Shipley

by psu on Jan 9, 2009 2:10 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

anyone taking him the first round

is a moron he’s not remotely ready, maybe a 3rd down 3-4 LB

by queler on Jan 9, 2009 2:11 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I tend to agree

The agents are scaring the hell out of kids though, telling them that soon there will be a rookie salary cap and the big guaranteed contracts for rookies are going to go away so they should declare as soon as they can. That’s total bullshit of course, but it’s still scary.

I think he’s a first round talent and a second round pick.

"I honestly think the "Spread HD" is going to work pretty well, and we’ll be just fine this year". - 8-27-2008

by jesse. on Jan 9, 2009 2:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Well Cincy and Oakland are sitting there at 6 and 7...

I’d throw in Detroit, but everyone knows they only draft WRs in the first round.

by IcersGuy on Jan 9, 2009 2:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

IDK

He’s definately not a top 5 or 6 pick like McShay is saying, but I’d say he got first round or early second round talent. Granted, he is undersized, but NFL teams know he got speed and plays every down, and it’s easy to put weight on a rookie

by WPIALkid22 on Jan 9, 2009 4:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

He's 235 pounds...

He’ll need 25 pounds to play DE in the pros.

Weak side LB in a 4-3 can go less than 250, say a Julian Peterson type – even LaVar Arrington was less than 250 coming out and played around 260.

OLB in a 3-4 can go less than 250 as well – James Harrison runs 240 or so but consider that Harrison wasn’t even drafted. DeMarcus Ware runs 260.

Problem being for the NFL team is why would you take a project (undersized LB/DE tweener that needs to put on weight) as a top 10 pick? He’s 3rd round material in my opinion – a lot of risk he won’t make the transition a la Vernon Gholston (who was 260 coming out.) I would be shocked if Maybin went first round with teams knowing he needs to put on 10 pounds and switch positions in order to contribute – maybe late first to a contender that can afford to develop him.

by DK Jr. on Jan 9, 2009 5:06 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

NFL Roids / HGH will help

by SweepTheLeg on Jan 9, 2009 5:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Needs weight

that’s for sure, but I believe he’ll put on at least 5 pounds for the combine/pro day, which would put him at 240. 6’3 240 is still undersized for the NFL but with all the mini camps and training camps I see no reason why he can’t get up to 245. I was curious to see if there was anyone who had a similar frame to Maybin’s that got drafted in the first 2 rounds the past couple years and came up with:
Keith Rivers- 6’3 235 (pick #9) Lawrence Timmons- 6’2 235 #15
Kamerion Wimbley- 6’3 241 #13 Roger McIntosh Ht/Wt: 6-2/236 #35
Derrick Johnson- 6’3 242 #15 Michael Boulware- 6’2 225 #53

So NFL teams are definitely taking chances on these guys. The one thing against Maybin is all those guys except Wimbley were OLB in college so they were playing the position for a couple years. Looking at teams like the Steelers though, and our outside linebackers were: Woodley, a DE at Michigan, Porter, a DE at Colorado St. and Clark Haggans, also a DE at Colorado St. Teams that run the 3-4 like the Steelers, Ravens, etc are looking for those tweeners that someone like Dick LeBeau could mold into what he wants.
I agree with you on his draft status, I don’t see him going in the top 15 picks. I say he’s somewhere in the 20-40 pick range. It’s way too early to tell, I mean, the combine didn’t even start and you really can’t make assumptions until that’s over. But to go top 15 he’d have to pull a Darren McFadden at the combine

by WPIALkid22 on Jan 9, 2009 6:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

We will find out his real

weight at the combine…but i’m sure he will be training for months to gain weight and show he can play 3-4 end…hopefully he doesn’t lose speed.

PSU Softball

by QBsneak12 on Jan 9, 2009 6:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Good Luck.

by Roland86 on Jan 9, 2009 2:17 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Who's the Next Maybin

Time to reload at DLine. Good Luck Maybin, make Penn State proud.

by psuphiman80 on Jan 9, 2009 2:20 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Damn skippy

I hope he slips to when NE is drafting…

by cmdpsu15 on Jan 9, 2009 2:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Next Maybin

Most likely candidates are Lattimore and Crawford.

We’ll still have a nasty D-Line in 2009 even if Evans goes pro.

Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

by BSD on Jan 9, 2009 2:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, Crawford

Are any of you BWI subscribers, or mostly FOS? There was a cool piece on Crawford on BWI earlier this week. He’s barely got 3years under his belt playing the sport, and he jumped Lattimore and Latham on the depth chart and ended up seeing plenty of time.

Also saw nice recovery piece on Hayes. Remember him? Gawd, I’m hoping more for him to have a good season (or 2 if medical redshirt is later applied for and approved) more than anybody else. And there’s Devon Still, too. Can’t wait to see what he can do.

pax et amor

by jtothep on Jan 9, 2009 2:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Seeing Crawford up close

He has to be the scariest looking guy on the team, I think he going to be great.

We just needed a couple players, a couple people to buy in to the fact and we were able to do it. --A.Q. Shipley

by psu on Jan 9, 2009 2:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, something about 6'5"

frames carrying decent weight and being wickedly quick and athletic is just freaky.

My aussie and kiwi mates used to always have fun with wondering which players in Rugby union would excel in American football and vice versa. I mean, think of some of these NBA dudes and what kind of DE or even LB they would make. Anyway, Crawford looks like he could also play basketball.

pax et amor

by jtothep on Jan 9, 2009 2:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It's more his head

He just looks crazy. I played Rugby at PSU and in England for one year (Jr year abroad). We had a few football players on the rugby team, they were good at rugby too.

We just needed a couple players, a couple people to buy in to the fact and we were able to do it. --A.Q. Shipley

by psu on Jan 9, 2009 2:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

No Doubt...

I remember thinking that too from last springs photos…he looks “different”…menacing!

" We need MORE cowbell !"

by BlueWhiteLife on Jan 9, 2009 3:00 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

crawford

was playing DT for a little this year, but a more natural DE. freakish size/speed matchup.

World F#$king Champions

by psudrozz on Jan 9, 2009 2:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I was just talking with a co-worker

And Maybin reminds him of Woodley. Granted Woodley is bigger than Mayhem, but same type mold. Woodley is doing fairly well in the Steel City.

by cmdpsu15 on Jan 9, 2009 2:25 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

interesting comparison

Wow. Never would have thought of those two together. One, for the size diff you mentioned. And although I remember Woodley being an absolute beast (and against us too), I never thought of him as quick, like Mayhem.

pax et amor

by jtothep on Jan 9, 2009 2:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Not quite

More like Bruce Davis, who was a R3 pick this year from UCLA. Quick first step, but needs to get stronger to handle the OTs he will face at the next level.

by Wlvrn99 on Jan 9, 2009 3:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The comparison was more for the path

Woodley took a year to develop in Pittsburgh, which would be the same with Maybin.

by cmdpsu15 on Jan 9, 2009 3:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Woodley

was exactly the guy I thought of while wondering if Maybin could adapt to the NFL. Woodley is the minority of guys like this, but its possible.

by blogue20 on Jan 9, 2009 4:49 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Steeler comparison

I want to say that the person Maybin reminds me the most of is Lawerence Timmons, the backup inside LB of the Steelers. Both are really quick and slightly underweight coming out of college, but now Timmons looks like a legit NFL inside linebacker. Where Timmons is playing inside LB, Maybin is going to play outside LB in a 3-4 scheme

by WPIALkid22 on Jan 9, 2009 4:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It's a year too early

for any of them, as you saw by watching the Rose Bowl, but I guess the $$$ will rule.

by Joe 96alum on Jan 9, 2009 2:25 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

You can always come back for a degree

Money won’t be there forever, If someone offered me anywhere near what he will get paid, i’d be out of college in a second. Its not ALL about money, but lets all be honest it mostly is. Its just all about deciding if the risk of injury or poor performance of one more year is worth any possible increase in money.

by Roland86 on Jan 9, 2009 2:37 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Good luck to him

I will be having a conniption if Bowman goes. That kid should be an absolute beast if he stays.

"They haven't played us yet."

by ReadingRambler on Jan 9, 2009 2:41 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Ehhh.

Got Lee coming back and some studs in the wings…I am ok

I think he is good, not great

by SweepTheLeg on Jan 9, 2009 5:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

He has a lot of potential

"They haven't played us yet."

by ReadingRambler on Jan 9, 2009 5:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

so did #14

by SweepTheLeg on Jan 9, 2009 7:41 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, that's a fair comparison

"They haven't played us yet."

by ReadingRambler on Jan 9, 2009 8:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

No kidding

I thought he would stay! I figured after the Rose Bowl loss that he and the rest of the “eligible underclassmen” would have “something to prove”. Oh well, best of luck. I’m sure he will do well. He is an outstanding pass rusher.

Possibly after 10-15 years in the NFL he can come back as an assistant coach for the DL (under Joe of course!!!).

by unitboy on Jan 9, 2009 2:41 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Jerome Hayes will be back next year, correct?

"They haven't played us yet."

by ReadingRambler on Jan 9, 2009 2:45 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Yes, he has no more ACLs to tear so thats a good thing too.

We just needed a couple players, a couple people to buy in to the fact and we were able to do it. --A.Q. Shipley

by psu on Jan 9, 2009 2:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

yes he has one year left of eligibility

Success without honor is like an unseasoned dish, it will fill you up but it won't taste good. - Joe V. Paterno

by carolinaeasy on Jan 9, 2009 2:53 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Hayes

There is a lot of talk about him applying for a medical redshirt. So we may get two good years out of him yet.

On a side note, his rehap is said to be going very well and he is hoping to participate in spring practice. Apparently the tear wasn’t as bad as the first one.

Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

by BSD on Jan 9, 2009 3:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Good

The defense is just plain better when he is on the field and he is a monster on special teams. I hope he can come back at full strength.

by psuphiman80 on Jan 9, 2009 4:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

That is the best news I've heard in awhile!

Jerome can do so many things on D, he’s really an asset when he’s healthy and on the field! I hope he gets the extra year too because if anyone’s had their eligibility hurt by injuries, it’s Jerome!

by RNF18 on Jan 9, 2009 4:53 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Good

I wanted King to stay last year, but I’m happy to see Maybin go this year. His stock probably won’t get much higher, and its always nice to add first round draft picks to your program’s history. I hope Evans goes, too, because I’ve seen a lot of projections with him in the first round. I hope Lavarro stays, though, another season could improve his stock.

God Created the World Out Of Nothing, Paterno Built A National Superpower On Cow Fields...

by fugimaster24 on Jan 9, 2009 3:12 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.....

Okay, my selfishness is over. I hope this pans our for you Project Mayhem, you had a great year and it was a blast watching you wreck havoc in the backfield.

by Screen Name 20 on Jan 9, 2009 3:22 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

This guy

worked his a$$ off this season. Good for him.

by 4thand15 on Jan 9, 2009 3:34 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

THIS IS THE BEST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN FOR THE TEAM

Sending players to the NFL draft early is more important than another year from the player. When you begin setting up an NFL pipeline for a certain position, it raises your recruiting stock, and suddenly you can turn around a position and reload it every season.

We saw this with Evans/Maybin, and I know we’ll see it again and again.

Maybin going pro early helps PSU long term, staying helps us short term. He is a monster, I will root for him on whatever team picks him.

by millzners on Jan 9, 2009 3:35 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Bowman?!

I can live with Maybin, Evans, and Odrick, but Bowman?

C’mon man, we need our LB core to be sick next season!

by millzners on Jan 9, 2009 3:37 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I know

But rumor is he’s thinking about bolting too. What’s odd is that he didn’t file the paperwork with the NFL draft advisory board. So you wonder where he’s getting his advice from.

Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

by BSD on Jan 9, 2009 3:38 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Would you really

declare for the draft without filing those papers? Isn’t getting an objective opinion of your worth kind of…important?

Kevin @ Black Shoe Diaries

by Kevin HD on Jan 9, 2009 3:41 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I heard

he spoke with Maurice Clarett and Mike Williams from USC…they told him go ahead, it’s a good idea.

But seriously, I think he’d might want to check that out before filing.

by Screen Name 20 on Jan 9, 2009 3:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Doesn't the draft advisory board...

“advise” more players that they’ll be first round picks than there actually are first round picks? Easterbrook writes about this in his TMQ column on ESPN Page 2 sometimes. He faults the advisory board for overestimating the chances of a player going high and not really making it clear that nothing is certain. All the “analysts” out there don’t help matters.

Phil

by baronlion on Jan 9, 2009 4:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

That's probably true

Sometimes teams might have a player in mind but others fall into their lap and the former players fall down the board until they fit a team’s need.

by Screen Name 20 on Jan 9, 2009 4:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Who knows?

It’s not like Bowman hasn’t had a history of bad decisions. I wonder who is advising him. Is he talking to agents who just tell him how great he is hoping to land him as a client? And didn’t his dad just die? That’s one less role model in his life. Maybe that’s motivation to end this chapter in his life and move on.

Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

by BSD on Jan 9, 2009 3:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Arrington !!

My guess is that Bowman is being advised by Lavar Arrington. It was reported in the papers this fall that Arrington had taken Bowman under his wing and was in contact (by phone) with him on a regular basis critiquing him after every game.

by ageing lion on Jan 9, 2009 9:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Just thinking out loud

I wonder in some respects for the guys who got in trouble in recent years if they aren’t just anxious to get out of State College and get away from the heavy hand of Joe Paterno. I’m sure they talk to guys like Mike Robinson, Poz, Justin King, and Tamba Hali who tell them how great the NFL lifestyle is even if you don’t make $5 million a year. I’ll never forget seeing Tony Hunt at the Senior bowl a few years ago doing an interview with a huge diamond stud ear ring in his ear. Joe Paterno would have never tolerated that, but in a sense you got the feeling Tony was kind of expressing himself and breaking free from the nest a bit. I’m sure that’s pretty appealing after you’ve been in the program for a few years.

Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

by BSD on Jan 9, 2009 3:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Too bady Tony got cut, I’m still a big fan.

But yes, I think you’re touching on a point that’s kind of tieing this whole week’s news together:

LJ Sr. is a masterful recruiter, he brings in kids no one else can. But the flip side is he’s recruiting kids that have a little more of an edge, or a little more of an attitude that may not fit so well with old school Penn State.

So these kids are going to PSU to play for Larry, but they get there and realize the old man is still running the show and basically keeping up the status quo from the 70’s. That’s causing a lot of conflict, because Larry and his recruits have this edge that doesn’t jive with old-school Paterno.

Maybe this whole thing is connected: the fights, the off the field incidents, now LJ is looking around, and many of his recruits are bolting the first chance they get. It’s like LJ tried his best to bring in the talent we needed, but found out the old man just won’t put up with the problems that it creates. So the honeymoon is over, and the mass exodus has begun…

by millzners on Jan 9, 2009 4:08 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Oh, well.

He must have received a pretty positive evaluation from the NFL draft advisory board, and made his decision accordingly. There’s no guarantee he would’ve had the same season at PSU in 2009 — remember when Maurice Evans was a pre-season All American in August and in the top ten of mock drafts last April?

Good luck to Aaron. Every indication is that he’s a good guy and a hard worker. He was the guy who was the ringleader for the “bus” of recruits from Maryland a few years ago, and those guys really helped the perception of this program.

--
Mr. Bob Dobalina

by Run Up The Score on Jan 9, 2009 4:29 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Thats always a scenario these kids have to look at

But in the case of Evans, that was mostly his own fault. The best thing that happened to Maybin was Evans getting into trouble. Of course its not a guarantee that nothing will go wrong if any player comes back for their senior season, but alot of it is in the hands of the kids themselves.

by blogue20 on Jan 9, 2009 4:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

My bet

If anyone else goes pro, I’m putting my money on Odrick. I don’t think Evans would go because he knows he could play better than he did this year, and I think Bowman will stay and up his stats with one more year. Most likely, all three will stay, but I’m saying if anyone goes it’ll be JO (hopefully the Steelers draft him too, he’d make a good end in our 3-4).

by WPIALkid22 on Jan 9, 2009 4:44 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I vote for Odrick as most underrated player on our D

You never heard announcers talking about him but we know he was a beast all year. I hope he stays to anchor the interior.

We just needed a couple players, a couple people to buy in to the fact and we were able to do it. --A.Q. Shipley

by psu on Jan 9, 2009 5:00 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

totally agree with you on that

I feel like JO and Tony Davis were extremely underrated this year

by WPIALkid22 on Jan 9, 2009 5:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

# 235 he is just a little bigger than USC's safety

by SweepTheLeg on Jan 9, 2009 5:23 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Taylor Mayes is staying, btw

Don’t think it’s been announced yet but I have an inside source. Not going pro this year, even though he’d definitely be first round. He doesn’t need the money. He’s got it over Maybin athletically anyway, the kid has no body fat on him.

Aaron DOES need the money, and I wish him only the best.

by PSUWifey on Jan 10, 2009 9:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Good luck

I saw the writing on the wall. Now, Bowman and Odrick need to stay for next year…

by kmblue on Jan 9, 2009 5:56 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

C-R-U-D

I had heard some rumors that he was going earlier in the week. Good for him.
It is a shame we only got to see him one season. As tough as it is to see him go it does make you feel good when you know his whole story. I just hope we don’t lose to many more.

Peter

by psuboy on Jan 9, 2009 9:58 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Woody Allen

My favorite movie is “Take the money and run.”

by jayer on Jan 10, 2009 1:49 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Have fun in the third round, dude.

Hope it’s worth it. See if anyone who “promises” you’re taken in the first round is willing to put their money where their mouth is if you slip to the later rounds (see also: King, Justin).

Maybin will be a beast, but not as a rookie in the NFL next year.

by Tailgate Shogun on Jan 10, 2009 2:40 AM EST reply actions 0 recs