Maryland OL earns first offer

Offensive tackle Kenneth Mayfield had a solid showing at the Elite College Combine and even picked up his first offer. What did the 6-foot-3, 303-pounder think of the day and his performance?

"It was awesome, I really had a good time and I got to showcase my abilities, it was a great experience," he said. "I did very well in the drills. I was kind of upset with my 40 time. I ran a 5.2-second 40-yard dash and 5.0 shuttle. I wasn't totally happy, I was satisfied though. My goal was to get 5.0 or 4.9 in the 40, I'm working towards that."

What did the Randallstown, Md. lineman think of the one-on-one drills?

"I really believe that's where I shined the most," he said. "It was great going up against Phillip Taylor and other big defensive linemen. It was pretty exciting when Taylor and I went up against each other. He got me once and then I got him once, I have a lot of respect for him as a player and after one-on-ones we talked."

What about Mayfield's performance stood out to scouts?

"I showed them my speed, agility and versatility," he said. "I think I showed them what being an offensive lineman is all about, and I was really intense. I impressed them with my attitude towards the game more than anything. I think college coaches were really impressed."

Mayfield came out of the combine with one offer in hand from Toledo.

"That's a great school and I'm interested to find out more about their program," he said. "I talked to their coach and I'm excited to learn more about their offensive scheme. I appreciate them offering and it's going to be exciting to see what Toledo has to offer."

Besides the offer, Mayfield has heard that a handful of schools are very close to offering.

"Virginia, Virginia Tech, Nebraska, Penn State, Maryland and Buffalo are all very interested and about to offer me," he said. "I'm really open to any type of offers though, no matter what school it is."

With the evaluation period going on, Mayfield has seen coaches from Maryland, Michigan State, Northeastern and Syracuse stop by his school. The lineman has also received calls from Toledo, Maryland and Penn State. Did any calls stand out to Mayfield?

"Talking to the head coach from Toledo was an interesting experience," he said. "He set down all the ground rules and let me know his school is probably one of the more known of the MAC."

What is the lineman looking for out of a school?

"Basically, I'm looking for the educational aspect of the school because that comes first," he said. "Then I'm looking for the type of environment at the school, a family atmosphere, the schemes they run and their offense and finally what they have to offer me as a player and student."

This summer Mayfield plans to visit a lot of schools. The lineman is also looking to attend two or three summer camps, although he isn't certain where he'll be headed yet.

Mayfield is also looking to improve himself even more during his final year in high school.

"Every day I'm working out, lifting weights, working on my speed, quickness and flexibility," he said. "I'm looking to improve my game overall. I just want to be able to showcase my talents and abilities next year.

"I want to show coaches what I'm made of this year and prove to them that I take this very seriously. I also want to show that I can be an important aspect to their team in 2006."

Mayfield was named all-division as a junior.