Late on Thursday evening, the University of Miami announced rs junior CB Ryan Mayes was leaving the Canes Football Program. Here’s the full release from UM Athletics:
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami announced Thursday that defensive back Ryan Mayes is no longer a member of the football program.
Mayes, a redshirt junior from Miami, played in 11 games last season, primarily on special teams.
There isn’t much to say about Mayes because he hasn’t done much to talk about. A 6’2” DB from Miami (FL) Northwestern (after transferring from Dr. Krop HS for his senior year), Mayes was seen as a reach for Miami to take as a recruit back in the 2013 recruiting class. That stance bore itself out to be true over the course of 4 very forgettable years. Mayes had 3 tackles on special teams in 2016, the only stats he recorded in 3 seasons of non-redshirt action for the Canes.
While he was viewed as a reach by many, Mayes was ranked ahead of TEs David Njoku and Christopher Herndon IV as recruits in 2014. Suffice it to say that that ended up being inaccurate.
Miami is widely known to be rebuilding the secondary after losing Corn Elder, Jamal Carter, and Rayshawn Jenkins to the NFL after the 2016 season. There are snaps to be had at both CB and S, and Mayes’ departure points to the fact that he was likely passed by other players for playing time. But, considering his lack of PT in the past, maybe it was just the realization that he was going to remain at the bottom of the depth chart for another year.
This may be harsh, but it needs to be said: for Miami to be the Miami that challenges for and wins championships, players like Ryan Mayes simply don’t have a place on the roster. He’s probably a fine person, but he’s not the caliber of athlete or player that Miami should have on the roster.
Mayes will likely drop down to a Group of 5 school or FCS to continue his playing career. Either of those would be a better fit for him than Miami was.
In any event, we wish Ryan Mayes all the best in his future endeavors.
As for Miami, fall camp begins on Tuesday, August 1st. More on that in the coming days.