Rueben Mayes
Encyclopedia
Rueben Mayes is a Canadian
who played in the National Football League
from 1986 to 1993.
He first gained notoriety as a running back
at North Battleford Comprehensive High School
in North Battleford, Saskatchewan
. In 1980 Mayes led the NBCHS Vikings to an undefeated season and the SHSAA 3A Provincial Football championship. In 1981 he set a provincial record in the 100 metre race at the SHSAA provincial track and field championship that still stands. Mayes played for the Washington State University
Cougars
, where he became All-American and finished tenth in the Heisman Trophy
race. Mayes set single-season and career-rushing records (1,632; 3,519 yards) with the Cougars, and established an NCAA
record for most rushing yards in one game (357 vs. Oregon
in 1984). That record remains the Pacific-10 Conference record.
He was drafted in the third round of the 1986 NFL Draft
by the New Orleans Saints
. He proceeded to win the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award that year. Although his NFL career was hampered by injuries, he was named to the Pro Bowl
twice. Mayes played five seasons with the Saints before being traded to the Seattle Seahawks
for the final two years of his career. Mayes, without benefits afforded promising young players in the U.S., excelled in a skill position among the best-trained football players in the world.
In his NFL career, he carried the ball 866 times for 3,484 yards. He scored 23 touchdowns. In 1995, a panel of experts commissioned by The Spokesman-Review named Mayes to the all-time WSU team. The honor was repeated in 1998 by Cougfan.com when it picked its list of the school's all-time greatest players.
May 1, 2008 was elected to the US College Football Hall of Fame
.
After football, Mayes became active in efforts to better educate at-risk youth. He would later earn a master's degree and return to Washington State University as an administrator.
He is now the regional director of development for Sacred Heart Medical Center in Eugene, Oregon, where he lives with his wife Marie and his two sons Kellen and Logan Mayes.
His son Logan is a three-star recruited linebacker at Marist Catholic Highschool in Eugene Oregon. He committed to play at Washington State University, following his father's footsteps.
He is one of the only three Saskatchewan natives to make it to the NFL, the other two being Arnie Weinmeister
and Jon Ryan
.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
who played in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
from 1986 to 1993.
He first gained notoriety as a running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
at North Battleford Comprehensive High School
North Battleford Comprehensive High School
North Battleford Comprehensive High School is one of three high schools in the city of North Battleford, Saskatchewan, Canada. NBCHS has a student body of around 800 students, and a faculty of approximately 50 teachers.-History:...
in North Battleford, Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
. In 1980 Mayes led the NBCHS Vikings to an undefeated season and the SHSAA 3A Provincial Football championship. In 1981 he set a provincial record in the 100 metre race at the SHSAA provincial track and field championship that still stands. Mayes played for the Washington State University
Washington State University
Washington State University is a public research university based in Pullman, Washington, in the Palouse region of the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1890, WSU is the state's original and largest land-grant university...
Cougars
Washington State Cougars
The Washington State Cougars are the athletic teams at Washington State University; the term applies to any of the school's varsity teams. Washington State University is a member of the Pacific-12 Conference, which participates in the NCAA Division I...
, where he became All-American and finished tenth in the Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
race. Mayes set single-season and career-rushing records (1,632; 3,519 yards) with the Cougars, and established an NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
record for most rushing yards in one game (357 vs. Oregon
Oregon Ducks football
The Oregon Ducks football program is the intercollegiate American football team for the University of Oregon located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The team competes at the NCAA Division I level in the Football Bowl Subdivision and is a member of the Pacific-12 Conference. Known as the Ducks, the...
in 1984). That record remains the Pacific-10 Conference record.
He was drafted in the third round of the 1986 NFL Draft
1986 NFL Draft
The 1986 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 29–30, 1986...
by the New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
. He proceeded to win the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award that year. Although his NFL career was hampered by injuries, he was named to the Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
twice. Mayes played five seasons with the Saints before being traded to the Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
for the final two years of his career. Mayes, without benefits afforded promising young players in the U.S., excelled in a skill position among the best-trained football players in the world.
In his NFL career, he carried the ball 866 times for 3,484 yards. He scored 23 touchdowns. In 1995, a panel of experts commissioned by The Spokesman-Review named Mayes to the all-time WSU team. The honor was repeated in 1998 by Cougfan.com when it picked its list of the school's all-time greatest players.
May 1, 2008 was elected to the US College Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
.
After football, Mayes became active in efforts to better educate at-risk youth. He would later earn a master's degree and return to Washington State University as an administrator.
He is now the regional director of development for Sacred Heart Medical Center in Eugene, Oregon, where he lives with his wife Marie and his two sons Kellen and Logan Mayes.
His son Logan is a three-star recruited linebacker at Marist Catholic Highschool in Eugene Oregon. He committed to play at Washington State University, following his father's footsteps.
He is one of the only three Saskatchewan natives to make it to the NFL, the other two being Arnie Weinmeister
Arnie Weinmeister
Arnold George Weinmeister was an American football defensive tackle. He went to four Pro Bowls, but with only a six-year tenure in the All-America Football Conference and National Football League combined, his career is one of the shortest of any Pro Football Hall of Fame member...
and Jon Ryan
Jon Ryan
Jonathan Robert Ryan is a Canadian professional gridiron football player who is currently the punter for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League...
.