Aaron Maybin surprised many people at the end of 2008. In 2009, he'll look to do it again.
Following a campaign that began on the bench and ended with awards, the Penn State redshirt sophomore declared for the NFL Draft Tuesday during a speech given to students at his alma mater, Mount Hebron High School, in Ellicott City, Md.
"I spent a lot of time doing a lot of research and talking to a lot of people," Maybin told The Daily Collegian on Tuesday night. "Enough to make a very important decision on what I need to do in order to make sure I'm in a good position to excel at this next level."
A 6-foot-4, 236-pound defensive end, Maybin has shocked many analysts with his decision to turn pro, as his undersized frame has many wondering what kind of player he could be at the next level.
"He doesn't have a lot of muscle on him, he's a pretty slender guy right now," Dan Shonka, Ourlads.com draft analyst, said. "He needed another year to develop physically. He's gonna get beat up a little bit."
But Todd McShay, director of college football scouting for Scouts Inc., has Maybin listed as the top defensive end prospect and sixth overall talent after the end garnered first-team Associated Press All-America honors and was one of three finalists for the Chuck Bednarik Award, given to the nation's top defensive player.
He played behind first-teamers Maurice Evans and Josh Gaines on the depth chart before being thrust into the role of starter after Evans was suspended for three games for violating team rules on Sept. 4.
Maybin then emerged as one of the country's top defensive ends, finishing the season fourth in the nation with 12 sacks while recording 20 tackles for loss, the country's sixth-highest total.
But Shonka believes Maybin is taking a big risk because he doesn't have a big body of work to show for his talents. Before the 2008 season, Maybin recorded just four sacks and 4.5 tackles for loss in spot duty.
Shonka feels Maybin -- projected to work out of a 3-4 defense -- may be making the same mistake as Vernon Gholston, the former Ohio State defensive end who is coming off a disappointing rookie season with the Jets, who run a 3-4.
Gholston recorded 14 sacks his junior season and was taken sixth overall in last April's draft.
"I don't wanna compare the two, but look at Gholston -- last year he didn't even get on the field," Shonka said. "He's the sixth pick in the draft and he has never played in a 3-4 and they're saying it's gonna take a while for him to learn that."
Yet Maybin remained unfazed by the many doubting his decision to leave school early.
"I feel very confident with how hard I'm gonna work and the kind of intensity I'm gonna attack my training with and everything that I'll be fine," Maybin said. "So as far as how hard I'm gonna work, anybody that knows me knows the kind of work ethic I have. Going into training, doing whatever it takes is necessary to get me to the next level, so as far as that goes, I think I'll be all right."
Frank Coyle, a scout at Draftinsiders.com, feels much the way Shonka does about Maybin, saying he's not worthy of a top-50 pick on draft day.
"He's gonna have to have a kick-ass workout to get in the first round," Coyle said. "I'll tell ya, I'm perplexed on this move. I really am."
However, Coyle feels Maybin's teammate, Evans, could generate more buzz with NFL teams should he decide to leave.
Evans entered 2008 as a preseason All-American but never regained his 2007 form after his suspension.
The Brooklyn, N.Y., native has yet to announce his intentions, but the disappointing season will likely cost him a shot at the first round should he enter the draft, Coyle said.
"I would say on talent Evans is a better player, if all things are right, but all things aren't right, obviously," Coyle said. "You've gotta kid who has had some problems and he's gonna have to prove that he's over it."
