Marcus Maye, Safety, Florida: NFL Draft Scouting Report
Playing on a stacked Gators defense for the last few seasons, Marcus Maye put up some impressive numbers. Would the safety have stood out on a less talented team?
The Florida Gators have boasted a number of NFL prospects over the last couple years on defense: including Vernon Hargreaves, Keanu Neal, Jonathan Bullard, Antonio Morrison, and Brian Poole last year, and Teez Tabor, Quincy Wilson, Caleb Brantley, Jarrad Davis, Alex Anzalone, and Marcus Maye this year. It’s natural to wonder if certain players get a boost by the players they play alongside with, and reviewing Maye’s film will give us a clearer picture of where he is as a prospect.
He contributed to the Gators defense as a Freshman before starting the next three seasons. His best season came as a junior where he amassed 82 tackles, 2 interceptions and 5 forced fumbles, earning first team All-American honors. Maye’s Senior season was also going well until a broken arm caused him to miss the last four games of his career.
Measurables
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 216 lbs
Number: 20
Games watched: South Carolina (2015), ECU (2015), Arkansas (2016), Vanderbilt (2016)
Strengths
Maye has a very well-rounded game that translates well to the next level. Versatility among defensive backs is quite valuable these days, as he has the skill set to play either safety spot. After watching his tape I am convinced that Maye can be a starter in the NFL. Whether he will be a star is up for debate, as he does most things well but nothing particularly great.
I believe his biggest strength is his overall awareness on the field. This shows up particularly well when tackling in the run game. He is rarely fooled in the read option game and can blow up plays in the backfield when he lines up around the line of scrimmage, like here against Vanderbilt:
He has a solid frame that matches up well with bringing down running backs, receivers and tight ends. I also see him excel in the screen game, where he frequently shed would-be blockers en route to the ball carrier. This is a good example, as he stops a South Carolina receiver from running for a first down:
Another area where Maye excels is in zone coverage. He seems to know when to try to make a play on the ball or go for the hit. I didn’t see any catches given up on him when he was in zone. He keeps everything in front of him and doesn’t make many mental errors.
Maye also has a lot of experience in the SEC, with three years of starting experience on one of the most talent-rich defenses in the country. Playing alongside four first round quality defensive backs over the last two years couldn’t hurt.
Weaknesses
As mentioned earlier, the 6’0″ 216 pounder does a lot of things well, but nothing particularly great. His 40 yard dash time at the combine could potentially help him a lot, but he realistically will run an average time at best.
The biggest issue I see with his game is his struggle with man coverage. It’s not just that he can’t keep up with the speed of receivers; there were a number of times where he got crossed up or slipped while in coverage. He doesn’t look natural at all when lined up with a receiver. I saw him get beat by a couple tight ends as well. Whatever team drafts him will probably elect to avoid situations where he is in 1 on 1 coverage.
Here are some examples of some slip ups in coverage he had. The first one is against ECU star wide out Zay Jones, while the second is against Arkansas receiver Drew Morgan:
Nothing else about his game particularly stands out as a weakness, as he does everything else you would except out of a safety.
Overall
With his experience, game awareness and tackling ability, Maye will certainly be in an NFL uniform next season. He has a fairly high floor for a safety, but doesn’t have a particularly high ceiling. He will be most successful on a team where he is able to play predominately zone coverage, while also spending time around the line of scrimmage to help out in the run game.
Of course, if he were to show more athleticism than expected at the combine, things could change, but I see the Gator as a second day pick come April.
Projection: 3rd Round
With the depth at safety this year, I see the 3rd round as a bit more likely for Maye. I have at least five safeties ranked above him.