Rueben Mayes: Saskatchewan farm kid excels in NFL

Rueben Mayes of North Battleford, Saskatchewan excelled in the backfield of the New Orleans Saiunts in the '80s.

Source: https://thestarphoenix.com/news/saskatchewan/canada-150-rueben-mayes

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It is still noteworthy for a Canadian to play U.S. college football and a major accomplishment to go to the NFL. In the 1980s it was virtually unheard of. There were kickers and punters who made it, but very few skill players, especially on offence.

Then came Rueben Mayes, a powerful runningback from North Battleford, Saskatchewan who achieved the feat.

He had caught my attention on some newscast, and I followed him as closely as I could after that.

This is his story.

College star
Mayes had a standout high school career in North Battleford, that included an undefeated and provincial championship season in 1980. He also set a record at the 1981 high school provincial track and field championships in the 100 metre sprint that still stands.

Don Hodgins, Mayes’ high school football coach, had shown faith in Mayes and instilled in him a love of football. He shot some film and started contacting NCAA colleges and universities. Then he went to the Edmonton Eskimos’ Pro Camp where he found Bob Padilla, defensive coordinator for Washington State University. That was how he was able to get Mayes’ film seen by Jim Walden, the head coach of the Washington State Cougars.

The website Believeinme.news states that Walden said the film of a high school football game looked like it was taken from the back of a pick-up truck. Still, they noticed every time Mayes touched the ball, he scored a touchdown.

So, Rueben Mayes went to Pullman to play for the Washington State Cougars from 1982 to 1985. The season was only 11 games long, and Mayes not only played in every game over those four years, he made them count.

In 1982, he rushed for 425 yards on 89 carries and caught five passes for 31 yards. In 1983, he ran for 221 yards and one touchdown on 61 carries, and had 11 receptions for 109 yards and one touchdown.

Then his career exploded.

In 1984, he rushed for 1,637 yards and 11 touchdowns on 258 carries, and had 13 receptions for 113 yards and one touchdown. In 1985, he rushed for 1,236 yards and 10 touchdowns on 228 carries and had 24 receptions for 252 yards and one touchdown.

His final college totals were 3,519 yards on 636 carries and 23 touchdowns, and 53 receptions for 505 yards and three touchdowns.

By the time he left Wsshington State, he had set 15 school records including most rushing yards in a season with 1,632; most career rushing yards with 3,519; most rushing touchdowns with 23; highest yards rushing average at 5.53 yards; most 100-yard games with 13; and was the first Cougar to have two 1,000-yard rushing seasons. He also set an NCAA record for most rushing yards in a game with 357 against Oregon in 1984 that stood until 2012. He was a 1984 consensus First Team All-American, finished 10th in Heisman balloting, and twice was the Pac-10 Conference offensive player of the year in 1984 and 1985.

Turning pro
From the first time I ever heard about Rueben Mayes, I harboured this faint hope he might come home and play in the Canadian Football League. There would be something poetic about him playing for Saskatachewan, who did draft him second overall in the 1986 CFL Draft. A farm kid from North Battleford suiting up for the Riders.

But it was just not meant to be.

Instead, the New Orleans Saints took him in the third round of the 1986 NFL Draft, and that would be a steal for the Saints.

Rookie sensation
Rueben Mayes would join Dalton Hilliard, who played his college football at LSU and who the Saints took in the second round ahead of Mayes. They were two rookies in the backfield for the hapless Saints, who had finished 5-11 in 1985.

Mayes would have a stellar rookie season in New Orleans. In 1986, he rushed for 1,353 yards and eight touchdowns, and caught 17 passes for 96 yards. He only started 12 of 16 games, because he had to earn his spot from a coaching staff that had penciled in other backs ahead of him.

For his efforts, Rueban Mayes was named the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, went to the Pro Bowl, and was named to the Professional Football Writers Association All Rookie Team.

Too short a career
Mayes had another good season in 1987, starting and playing in 12 games, rushing for 917 yards and five touchdowns, and hauling in 15 passes for 68 yards, on his way to a second trip to the Pro Bowl.

He had another solid campaign in 1988, starting nine of 16 games where he rushed for 628 yards and three touchdowns, and caught 11 passes for 103 yards.

Mayes had already been hampered by injuries, but they really sunk their teeth in, in 1989, when he missed the entire season due to injury.

He returned to action in 1990, appearing in 15 games, starting eight of them, and rushing for 510 yards and seven touchdowns on 138 carries, and had 12 receptions for 121 yards.

After that, he was traded to Seattle, returning to the state where he had so many great college moments. Yet, injuries severely limited his play. In 1992, he dressed for 16 games, gaining 74 yards on 28 carries, and catching two passes for 13 yards. In 1993, he appeared in one game, carrying the ball once for two yards.

He retired soon after that.

Rueben Mayes’ career totals were 3,484 yards and 23 touchdowns on 866 carries in 76 games. He also had 57 receptions for 401 yards.

Parting thoughts
I recall, after I learned about Rueben Mayes when he was still at WSU, pronounced Wazoo, eagerly watching the sports news on TV. I wanted to see how he did every week first with the Cougars and then with the Saints. I think a lot of Canadian football fans were rooting for him, because his was such a cool story.

It was interesting too that any time I met someone from North Battleford, I always had to ask if they knew Rueben Mayes. They all did, because it is a close-knit, rural community. Everyone also had their own, unique story.

The one I recall best happened in the fall of 1987. I was just starting my first year of university, and Mayes was entering his second NFL season.

There was this café in our student residence called “The Galley”, and there was a real nice student working there named Haydee Legario. One day, I was waiting for my supper and I started talking to her. When I found out she was from North Battleford, I asked if she knew Rueben Mayes. She had heard of him, and seen him around, but he was older than she was. But, she did know his younger brother Chris.

That’s small-town life.

Since then, Rueben Mayes has been inducted into every hall of fame where he was able to perform to the best of his abilities – the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame to name two. Had he had a longer NFL career, one in which he was not hobbled by injury, he may have ended up in the Pro Football Hall Of Fame too.

He is not that well known today, but his achievements are legendary. He went from a high school in Saskatechewan straight to the roster of a Pac-10 school. He did not play his Grade 12 year at an American high school to get more exposure, or play at an American junior college that would have paved the way to a Division I school.

No, his coach made what amounted to home movies of Mayes, and literally approached college coaches in person to get them to have a look at Mayes.

When he did get his opportunity, wherever it was, he excelled.