Bad draft news..Taylor Mays elects to stay at SC and not enter the draft
 

Good news for my college team not so much for the Chiefs...

http://www.dailynews.com/usc/ci_11439613

USC coach Pete Carroll said Monday that All-American safety Taylor Mays, cornerback Josh Pinkard and tailback C.J. Gable would return next season.

All three were eligible for the NFL draft and considered turning pro following the Rose Bowl.

Mays, who is considered a top-20 pick, said after the Rose Bowl he was leaning toward going pro and was considered the most likely USC underclassman to depart.

"They are all returning," Carroll said.

In a sign that he would return, Mays just moved into an apartment with USC teammate Will Harris last weekend. Sources said he enjoyed college life and wanted to spend another year at USC before experiencing the demands of the NFL.

Mays, a three-time All-American, could not be reached for comment.

"At the beginning of the season, I wanted to leave," Mays said after USC defeated Penn State in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1. "Halfway through, it was 50-50. Now, if I do leave, it feels like a perfect way to go if I leave. That would be the way to do it."

That changed in the past 10 days, sources said, when Mays realized the benefits of staying in school.

"He doesn't have the pressure here that he would in the NFL and he likes being with his friends," a source said.

Pinkard said last month he would turn pro if he were invited to the NFL Combine but also expressed a desire to play safety at USC next season.

"That's one of the things we've talked about with Josh," Carroll said. "We'll discuss it further."

Pinkard also needs the NCAA to grant him a sixth year of eligibility. Carroll did not say if Pinkard received approval yet for his extra year. Pinkard was an honorable mention all-Pacific-10 Conference selection last season after missing two seasons with knee injuries.

With Mays and Pinkard returning, USC's defense suddenly does not look quite as weak. The Trojans expected to lose 10 starters but will return Mays and Pinkard along with starting cornerback Shareece Wright, who redshirted in 2008 following a neck injury.

Gable (Sylmar High) met with Carroll last week to discuss his future. He was angry after the Rose Bowl because he was removed from the game following a fumble. Gable gained 617 yards last season but was unhappy with the tailback-by-committee approach employed at USC.

The big question now for USC is the future of quarterback Mark Sanchez. He is expected to return for his senior season, but that decision could be altered if Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford announces he is turning pro before Thursday's deadline. NFL analysts project Sanchez could be the No. 2 quarterback taken in the draft behind Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford if Bradford stays in college.

Sanchez's family prefers he return to USC and like Mays, he enjoys the college atmosphere, so the odds are he will return for his senior season.

With Sanchez and Mays holding the joint press conference this looks like double bad news for the Chiefs...

Wouldn't it be a total turnaround if Taylor stays and Mark declares?

I used to think it was a slam dunk that Mark would stay and Taylor would go. But the longer this goes on, I think it's more likely that Mark is gone.

well, one less worthy pick if we can't get a QB....but maybe we can get him next year

Not as bad as it may seem. If we can get Sanchez/Stafford this April, we'll still be a horrible team and we can get Mays next year.

"Of course, Mr. Steinbrenner, I think I've figured out a way for us to get Ken Griffey Jr. and Barry Bonds without giving up too much..." /Kosanza

That sucks.

I have a feeling Bradford is going to stay so basically it could be Stafford as the only worthy top QB pick which means we are screwed.

They are all staying at USC...as was predicted. Do not see it as that bad of news myself. You take the best there is from each draft. You can not worry about who does and who does not come out. Beyond your control. They all did what was best for them.

***Speculation*** Lets say we do get Pioli, and both Bradford and Sanchez stay in school, and detroit takes Stafford. I can see Pioli, with his draft history, trading away our #3 for a #10-#15 range, a third rounder in 2009 and a first and a third rounder in 2010 to try to ensure we have enough to get whatever QB we want then... Bradford/Sanchez/whoever...

Maybe pick up Maualuga in the #10-#15 range...

Yeah, this is kind of a "maybe this will help us pick him up next year" thing for me.

Totally expected.

Do not see how this is bad news for the Chiefs in any way.

I forget where I read it, but some writer with an alleged connection to several scouts said that Mays wasn't as highly regarded as people think. They said he sits too far back in order to make the highlight big hit. He said the scouts said Mays was a late 1st round/early second round prospect to them. According to this guy the prospect that they liked the best from USC is Matthews.

This is great news....for William Moore!!!

I think it's a stupid move. He's easily the first safety taken this year. Next year he has Eric Berry to contend with.

More draft info from GBN...

January 13
(12:01 AM): Pitt back continues to waffle… The drama continues in Pittsburgh where Pitt star sophomore RB LeSean McCoy has reportedly once again delayed his decision on whether to declare himself eligible for the 2009 draft. McCoy had been expected to announce on Monday that he would be entering the draft, however, is reportedly still mulling his decision. For the record, McCoy had said in mid-season that he would definitely be back at school next fall, but had a change of heart and was reportedly headed to the draft before talking with Pitt head coach Dave Wannstedt late last week. If he does ultimately enter the draft, McCoy is expected to be one of the first 2-3 backs elected. Underclassmen have until the end of business on Thursday to apply to the NFL for early entry to the upcoming draft. Among other top underclassmen who have yet to declare, Florida junior WR Percy Harvin reportedly told the Gainesville Sun on Sunday that he was leaning toward returning and that he planned to meet with Florida coach Urban Meyer on Monday. Meanwhile, Florida junior MLB Brandon Spikes reportedly has told several teammates than he plans to return for his senior season, although he is still reportedly discussing the final decision with his family.

if these juniors don't come out it will the worst 1st round in awhile, i'd think