NFL DRAFT PROFILE: LINEBACKER JEROD MAYO

Mocking the Draft and the rest of the SB Nation NFL sites are conducting a mock NFL draft in anticipation of the real thing on April 26 and 27.

Yesterday, New Orleans Saints blog Canal Street Chronicles chose Jerod Mayo as the 40th overall pick, and earlier in the day, Hogs Haven noted that the Washington Redskins organization was inviting Mayo for a visit. Anyway, here's an orange-flavored view of Mayo's Tennessee career.

First up, Mayo's profile fresh out of high school:

As his pre-college profile shows, Jerod Mayo was not the most highly-decorated recruit ever to be lured to Rocky Top. A mere four stars from Rivals and a paltry three stars from Scout did not deter him, however, from a stellar college career under legendary defensive coordinator and linebacker coach John Chavis, who has coached such luminaries as Al Wilson, Kevin Burnett, Leonard Little, and Eddie Moore into the NFL.

After redshirting in 2004, Mayo played in six games and started one in 2005. He missed the final four games of The Season of Which We Do Not Speak with a knee injury.

Mayo really began to get noticed in 2006. Starting 11 of 12 games in which he played, Mayo finished third on the team and 11th in the SEC with 83 tackles, and he had five sacks for 40 yards. He earned second-team All-American honors from Rivals, was the Walter Camp Defensive Player of the Week on September 2, and was the SEC Defensive Player of the Week for both the weeks of September 2 and October 21.

And then, in 2007, Mayo became a monster, racking up 120 tackles, including seven for a loss, a sack, a forced fumble, an interception return for a touchdown, and five QB hurries. Against Kentucky alone, Mayo had 19 tackles, a sack, a TFL, and two passes defended. Career stats:

Ooh, and video, too:

I don't recall even one little peep about Mayo ever being in trouble or suspended or having an attitude problem or anything while at Tennessee. I do know this: Whoever gets Mayo in the draft is getting a good 'un. Disciplined. Well-taught. Coachable. A sticky tackler. A nose for the ball. Tough. Fundamentally sound. Character.

A Tennessee Volunteer linebacker.