2017 NFL Draft: Florida Marcus Maye Scouting Report
By Jon Dove
Florida’s Marcus Maye is a physical safety prospect whose may fall in the draft as he works his way back from an injury.
Marcus Maye is a thickly built safety prospect who is known as a big hitter. One of the biggest things that jumps out when watching Maye is that he has a knack for generating fumbles. He really focuses on getting his head or hand on the ball as he tries to dislodge it.
When Maye is at the top of his game he is flying all over the field and making tone-setting hits. He has the closing speed needed to break on the ball carrier and cover a ton of ground. Maye isn’t afraid to work near the line of scrimmage and take on blockers.
The issue is that Maye provides inconsistent effort hesitating to attack the ball or purse with tenacity. Too often, he’s either a step slow to make a play or can be found jumping on the pile.
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His reputation as a big hitter is earned, but safety prospects whose value is as a run supporter need to consistently fly around the field. He should be the one making the tackles not allowing the front-7 to do most of the work.
In coverage, Maye shows the ability to make solid reads and close on the football. He’s a little tight through the hips which limit his ability to hold up in man coverage. Maye also needs to show more commitment to keep his pads down and remaining balanced.
Overall, this is a player who has the potential to develop into an NFL starter. He also has a chance to make too many mistakes because of lack of effort and wash out of the league.
Current Draft Range: Early 5th Round