When the Washington Huskies take the field Saturday afternoon in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum to face off with USC, it will be a homecoming for one of the key pieces of Jedd Fisch's coaching staff. After a decorated playing career as a Trojan and three years on coach Lincoln Riley's staff, safeties coach Taylor Mays will make his return as the opposition to his alma mater.
Playing under Pete Carroll from 2006 through 2009, the former five-star product of Seattle's O'Dea High School turned out to be one of the most decorated defensive players in program history, becoming the fourth Trojan to become a three-time First Team All-American and helping his team to three consecutive Rose Bowl victories from 2007-2009. Mays joined linebacker Richard
Wood, quarterback Matt Leinart, and offensive tackle Sam Baker as the only other players to complete the feat.
Before joining the Huskies in 2025, the former second-round pick got his coaching career started as Riley's defensive analyst in 2022. After serving as the interim safeties coach the next season, Mays then became the assistant defensive backs coach in 2024 before taking the full-time position on Montlake.
He’s stood where you stand. Taylor Mays, a 3-time First Team All-American + 2nd round NFL Draft pick, now prepares the next generation of elite safeties at DBU. 🐺☔️ pic.twitter.com/MekV7nGYEZ
— Washington Football (@UW_Football) May 18, 2026
Since his hire, the secondary has seen a significant increase in production, led by 2025 UW defensive MVP and All-Big Ten honorable mention Alex McLaughlin and freshman All-American Rylon Dillard-Allen. Through the first four weeks of the season, McLaughlin is the team leader in tackles, tackles for loss, sacks, and interceptions, something that is almost unheard of at the position.
As good as his unit has been, it will have its hands full this weekend against the nation's leading passer, Jayden Maiava. The fifth-year senior is three feet away from surpassing the 1,500-yard mark and poses as one of the best signal callers the Huskies will face this year. In order for Washington to have a chance to go toe-to-toe with one of college football's highest-powered offenses, Mays' group will have to put together its best performance of the season.
While the second-year position coach is as soft-spoken as they come, he will prepare his proteges to carry the same tenacity and swagger that he showcased on the same field twenty years ago.
This article originally appeared on Huskies Wire: Washington Football Assistant to Face Alma Mater in Return to USC
