(Photo by Icon Sports Media)

Bruce Feldman at ESPN.com interviewed Taylor Mays this week. You must be an ESPN insider to read the entire feature (basically you need to have a paid subscription to read certain articles).

If you are insider, here is the link. If you aren’t, I don’t think it is that expensive to sign up. Luckily for you I am an insider and here two highlights from the interview:

Feldman: “What do you think it would take, as a defensive player who doesn’t return kicks, to get Heisman consideration?”

Mays: Well, I think I just have to catch the ball. That’s what Eric Berry does so well. That’s what Ed Reed does so well. Those plays change the game for their teams. It really hasn’t been to my role, but I have to have that mindset that, “OK, the ball’s in the air, get to it and catch it.” And if I get the ball in my hands, I don’t think I’m going to get tackled, and that’s the next step I can take as a player. And I am ready to do that. I feel like I’m a lot better player going into this season than I was last year.

Feldman: “How badly would you like to play both ways and get some work on offense?”

Mays: We’ll see. I don’t think it’s something that needs to be practiced a lot. I know our whole offensive playbook as well as I know the defensive playbook. I know what’s going on. Throw me the hitch. Let me stiff-arm the quarterback (TrojanWire note: I think he meant cornerback), and I’ll get some yards.

It is a very candid interview with arguably the best defensive player in the country. To read the full interview, click here.

And to learn more “facts” about Taylor Mays, click here.

In conversation with Taylor Mays [espn]