Five games ago, Kecoughtan Head Coach Tommy Austin decided to put his best defensive player on the offensive side of the ball. Jerod Mayo , who is one of the top linebacker prospects in the state, was asked to play tailback in addition to his usual role as linebacker on defense.

An immediate success, Mayo has rushed for 885 yards in five games. He averages 8.1 yards per carry. While he seems a natural in the offensive backfield, he concedes that defense is where he wants to be.

“No, no, no…I want to play defense in college,” said Mayo when asked if running back was in his future. “You get banged around too much [as a tailback]. It’s fun and all, but I still like defense. I like to be the guy dishing out punishment.”

The five schools he plans on making official visits to feel the same way. Virginia, Virginia Tech, NC State, Tennessee, and Purdue are all recruiting Mayo as a linebacker, specifically outside linebacker (Virginia Tech is recruiting him as a Whip LB).

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