Jalen Mayo DB Houston |
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| Jersey: #2 ROLE: Outside Man/Press CB | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 10/07/2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2027 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FORTY time: 4.50 seconds (59%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jersey: #2 | |
| ROLE: Outside Man/Press CB | |
| Last Updated: 10/07/2026 | |
| Draft Year: 2027 | |
| Forty time: 4.50 seconds (59%*) | |
| Overall Rating: | 83.2 / 100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
|
71% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| QB Rating When targeted: | 52.2 | |
| Tackling: |
|
65% |
| Run Defense: |
|
85% |
| Coverage: |
|
86% |
| Zone: |
|
78% |
| Man/Press: |
|
82% |
|
DRAFT PROJECTION:
5th
Overall Rank:
#137
Position rank:
#31 (DB)
|
||
| College Games: 20 College Snaps: 1103 | ||
| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah Johnson - Arizona State |
|
32% |
| Tyreke Johnson - Nebraska |
|
03% |
| Terrell Smith - Monmouth |
|
03% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Jalen Mayo won a Virginia Class 3 state title at Phoebus High School in Hampton but received no scholarship offers, which he has attributed to his academics. He took the only path available at Division II Virginia Union, where he redshirted in 2022 and then helped the Panthers to two CIAA titles while recording 75 tackles and 10 pass breakups over two seasons.Mayo moved up to the FCS at Stephen F. Austin in 2025 and made an immediate impact, intercepting four passes and earning first-team All-Southland honors. When Lumberjacks cornerbacks coach Marcus Trice took the same job at Houston, Mayo followed him.
A Senior Bowl Top 300 selection, Mayo has started every game at cornerback for the Cougars, who are 4-1 and ranked No. 22. He intercepted a pass in the 28-26 loss at Texas Tech and got home for a sack while forcing a fumble against Southern.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Zone coverage is his strength: reads the quarterback and drives on the throw
- Long 6-foot-2 build lets him contest throws at the catch point on the boundary
- Physical in run support for a corner, setting the edge and coming downhill
- Ball production travels, with four interceptions at SFA and another at Texas Tech this fall
- Seven catches allowed on 16 targets through five games in 2026
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Man coverage trails his zone work; less comfortable mirroring receivers in press
- Tackling is inconsistent, with misses in three of five games this fall
- Gave up chunk plays to Oklahoma State and Texas Tech, 150 yards combined
- Slight 190-pound frame needs more strength for NFL receivers
Scouting Report: Summary
Mayo's story is one of the best in this class. Nobody offered him a scholarship coming out of Phoebus; he started his career in Division II, moved up to the FCS and is now a starting cornerback for a ranked Power Four team. He has earned every step. A long, rangy corner, he does his best work in zone, where he reads the quarterback, keeps receivers in front of him and breaks on the ball with conviction, and he has been productive this fall with an interception, four pass breakups, a sack and a forced fumble. He is also a willing run defender, which is rare for a player his size.However, he is still adjusting to a higher level of competition. Oklahoma State and Texas Tech both found big plays against him, and he gave up 150 yards combined in those two games. His frame is slight at 190 pounds, and his tackling has been inconsistent, with misses in three of five games. NFL receivers will test his strength at the line and his ability to finish plays in space.
Overall, Mayo is a long, instinctive zone corner whose story and steady rise should appeal to NFL teams. He projects as a fifth-round pick, and in a zone-heavy scheme he has a real shot to start on the boundary; even if that never happens, his length and toughness will play on coverage units.
How other scouting services rate Jalen Mayo (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
129.5
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
32.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.