Diamond In The Rough: Jamal Mayers

Jamal Mayers is the definition of a ball hawk. His instincts for the ball is the first thing I noticed when watching him play. The 2023 defensive back attends James Clemens High and is from Huntsville, Alabama. Mayers was an easy all-state selection for Alabama 7a football after racking up seven interceptions and returning three of them for touchdowns. Mayers is listed at 5’10, 160 pounds but plays much bigger. He has shown he is a complete player by coming down and making tackles, locking up receivers one on one, and consistently saving his defense by being the last line of defense. I am excited to see the jump this young man takes next football season.

Check out Jamal’s highlights

Tell us about yourself, who is Jamal Mayers? Jamal Mayers is Christian football player, a nice football player. He’s a fun-loving guy who cares about others. Most importantly, he likes to win.

What is your why? A lot of coaches want to know if your heart and mind is in the right place. Why do you go so hard, why is it so important that you play at the next level? My why is because a lot of people doubt me and so I want to prove to them that I can.

You play defensive back, one of the most difficult positions on the field. What mindset must you have to be elite at that position? To be elite at the position you have to believe that a receiver will not catch a ball on you. You must be very confident in what you do. There is no room for doubt, or you will get beat. Your mindset leads to a certain aggression that helps you win matchups.

What are some pros and cons of playing football in Alabama? Some pros are that you get to go up against some of the best athletes and teams. A con is that it gets very cold in the winter if you make the playoffs.

What has been the highlight of your sporting career thus far? My favorite moment is when we were playing a team called Austin and we were at their house. It was the start of the second half and the score 14-20. The momentum was on their side. They were scoring whenever they wanted. At the start of the half, I got a 65-yard pick 6 and shifted the momentum back to us. It was really nice to see so many people cheering for you at an away game.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years? In five years, I see myself being a projected NFL draft pick. I want to major in business or finance in college.

In what ways do you work out and stay in shape during the offseason? Do you mind explaining a workout or training session? Our school does our own workouts, I personally have a trainer that I go to after school. He uses a Vertimax that is very intense and gets you very tired but I have seen myself improve since working with him.

What hobbies do you have outside of playing football? Pretty much anything that has a ball in it I like to do. I am a very active person, so I like to play baseball and other sports in general. I also like to play outside with friends.

What advice would you give to 10-year-old Jamal? Is there anything you wish you knew before you got in your position? I would tell him to just keep focusing on your grades.

What would you bring to a college football program? And what are you looking for in a college program? I would bring a hard-working attitude. I would be coachable and at the end of the day help you win games. I am looking for a successful program and I am looking for a family environment. I am also looking for coaches who are successful and value the players.

Who is your favorite NFL or collegiate player? Why are they your favorite and what parts of your game do you implement into your own? Deion Sanders. He plays the same position as me. He was a hard worker even though he had God given talent. He was successful at multiple sports and was definition of an athlete.

What are your goals for the upcoming season? A few of my goals are that I want to win a 7a championship. Get more than the 7 interceptions I got this year. My target goal is 11 or 12.