Jerry Mays (running back)
{{Short description|American football player (born 1967)}}
{{other people||Jerry Mays (disambiguation)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| image =
| name = Jerry Mays
| number = 47
| position = Running back
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1967|12|8}}
| birth_place = Augusta, Georgia, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 5
| height_in = 7
| weight_lbs = 176
| high_school = Thomson (GA)
| college = Georgia Tech
| undraftedyear = 1990
| pastteams =
- San Diego Chargers ({{NFL Year|1990}})
| highlights =
- First-team All-ACC (1989)
- ACC Rookie of the Year (1985)
| pfr = MaysJe20
}}
Jerry Mays (born December 8, 1967) is a former player in the NFL. He played for the San Diego Chargers. He played collegiately for the Georgia Tech football team.
High school
Mays remains both the all time and single season rushing leader at Thomson High School in Thomson, Georgia. While at Thomson Mays had over 1,000 yards twice in his career. During the 1983 season he finished with 1,666 yards and the 1984 season with a whopping 2,369 yards.{{cite web|url=http://thomsonfootball.com/records.php |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2010-11-15 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717051638/http://thomsonfootball.com/records.php |archivedate=2011-07-17 }}
College
Mays played college football at Georgia Tech. After being offered a scholarship by only one Division I-A school he was the 1985 ACC Rookie of the Year under Coach Bill Curry.{{cite news| url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/2005-01-31-unsung-recruits-focus_x.htm | work=USA Today | title=Fate often plays role in football recruiting | date=2005-02-02}} Through the 2006 season Mays was still 2nd all time on the Georgia Tech career rushing yards list with 3,699.{{Cite web |url=http://ramblinwreck.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/indivcareerlead.html |title=Georgia Tech Official Athletic Site - Football |access-date=2010-11-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110602212955/http://ramblinwreck.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/indivcareerlead.html |archive-date=2011-06-02 |url-status=dead }} He was inducted into the Georgia Tech Hall of Fame in 1997.{{cite web| url=http://ramblinwreck.cstv.com/ot/fame/halloffame.html| title=Georgia Tech Athletics Hall of Fame| work=RamblinWreck.com| publisher=Georgia Tech Athletic Association| accessdate=2007-09-25| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110918200605/http://ramblinwreck.cstv.com/ot/fame/halloffame.html| archive-date=2011-09-18| url-status=dead}}
- 1985: 104 carries for 566 yards and 3 touchdowns. 9 catches for 95 yards and 1 touchdown. 5 kick returns for 134 yards.{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/jerry-mays-1.html |title=Jerry Mays Stats | College Football at Sports-Reference.com |accessdate=2015-05-16 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150309072936/http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/jerry-mays-1.html |archivedate=2015-03-09 }}
- 1986: 148 carries for 842 yards and 7 touchdowns. 23 catches for 161 yards and 3 touchdowns.
- 1988: 194 carries for 942 yards and 9 touchdowns. 46 catches for 338 yards and 2 touchdowns.
- 1989: 249 carries for 1349 yards and 8 touchdowns. 37 catches for 275 yards and 4 touchdowns.
Professional
Mays played in two games during the 1990 season for the Chargers of the NFL.{{Cite web|url=http://www.nfl.com/players/jerrymays/profile?id=MAY780239|title=NFL Players | Past & Current NFL Players|website=NFL.com }}
Awards and honors
- Georgia Tech Athletics Hall of Fame (1997){{Cite web |url=http://ramblinwreck.cstv.com/ot/fame/halloffame.html#fbc |title=Georgia Tech Official Athletic Site |access-date=2007-09-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110918200605/http://ramblinwreck.cstv.com/ot/fame/halloffame.html#fbc |archive-date=2011-09-18 |url-status=dead }}
- ACC Rookie of the Year (1985)
- Georgia Tech 2nd All-Time Rushing yards leader (1985–1989)
- Thomson High School (GA) All-Time Rushing Yards Leader (1982–1984) - 4,741 yards
- Thomson High School (GA) Single-Season Rushing Yards Leader (1984) - 2,369
1989 All ACC “Atlantic Coast Conference”
1990 Japan Bowl “ramblinwreck.cstv.com”
2017 Thomson High School Wall of Fame
2024 Georgia High School Football Hall of Fame