Steelers 2014 NFL Draft Player Profiles – Stanford DE Josh Mauro

Good friend Dave-Te’ Thomas of Scouting Services has finished his player profiles of several of the top 2014 NFL Draft prospects and over the course of the next few weeks I will be posting the ones that the Pittsburgh Steelers will more than likely have interest in. A reader requested that I post the profile of Stanford defensive end Josh Mauro,who has drawn comparisons to Brett Keisel. So today it’s time to post his profile that was prepared by Thomas, who has done these for the NFL for several years now.

JOSHUA DANIEL “Josh” MAURO
Defensive End
Stanford University Cardinal
#90
6:05.7-271
Hurst, Texas
L.D. Bell High School

OVERVIEW

Stanford’s “Cinderella Story” had a happy ending for Mauro as a senior. After toiling deep down the depth chart for four seasons, recording thirty tackles through his first thirty-five

Games in a Cardinal uniform, the All-Pac 12 Conference honorable mention played a major role for a defensive unit that ranked fifth in the nation with 44.0 sacks for minus 310 yards and placed seventh while leading the league with 109 tackles behind the line of scrimmage for losses totaling 479 yards.

Mauro chipped in with four sacks among his 12.5 stops for minus 56 yards, as three of his six quarterback pressures caused interceptions in 2013. He almost doubled his tackle output from his first four seasons last year, as he was credited with 51 hits, including eighteen on third-down snaps.

Mauro was regarded as the 31^st-best weak-side defensive end in the nation during his senior season at L.D. Bell High School, as the big Texan garnered Dallas Morning News first team all-area and Associated Press all-state honors in 2008. A versatile athlete, he started at defensive end, linebacker and quarterback during his career.

The All-District 5-5A first-team choice also received Fort Worth Star-Telegram Super Team second team all-area and Texas Writers’ Association all-state second team that season. He produced 80 tackles, including twelve behind the line of scrimmage, with twelve sacks, five forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and one blocked kick on offense. He also made seven catches for 155 yards and one touchdown as a tight end. In addition to playing on the gridiron, he also lettered in basketball.

Mauro did not see action on the football field after enrolling at Stanford in 2009. He appeared mostly on special teams the next year, managing to record seven tackles in nine appearances. He performed in thirteen contests at both defensive end positions in 2011, but only tallied four tackles, as two resulted in sacks.

The 2012 campaign saw Mauro earn more playing time on the field, but remaining as a reserve through thirteen contests, he was in on nineteen tackles as a pass rush specialist, delivering five sacks and seven stops behind the line of scrimmage in 2012.

After beginning his final season still with the second unit, Mauro was inserted into the lineup at right defensive end for the final eleven games on the 2013 schedule. He responded with 51 tackles, a fumble recovery, two forced fumbles and an interception. Off the edge, he sacked the quarterback four times, adding six pressures while producing 12.5 stops-for-loss, the third-best total on the Cardinal squad.

CAREER NOTES

Started the final eleven contests of his 48-game career at Stanford, recording 81 tackles (51 solos) with eleven sacks for minus 71 yards, 21.5 stops for losses of 103 yards and six quarterback pressures…Gained 25 yards on an interception return and deflected three other tosses…Recovered three fumbles and caused two others.

SEASON ANALYSIS

2013 SEASON

Mauro took over right defensive end duties for the final eleven games that he appeared in, earning All-Pac 12 Conference honorable mention, along with being named to the watch lists for the Bednarik Award and Ted Hendricks Award…Recorded 51 tackles (33 solos) with four sacks for minus 33 yards, placing third on the team with 12.5 stops for losses totaling 56 yards…Deflected one pass and intercepted another for a 25-yard return…Had one fumble recovery and two forced fumbles…Named Stanford’s Defensive Player of the Game at Army and California…Came off the bench to deliver seven tackles (6 solos) vs. Army and recorded his first sack for the season vs. San Jose State…Was in on a sack, as he picked off a pass vs. Arizona State, adding another sack, causing a fumble on the play the next week vs. Washington State…Got into the backfield for a 6-yard loss while making four tackles vs. Washington and registered a career-high eight tackles (6 solos) while breaking up a pass vs. Utah…Posted another eight tackles that included a sack among his three stops for losses, as he caused a fumble on the QB drop vs. Oregon State…Closed out the season by making at least one stop behind the line of scrimmage in each of his final seven appearances…Made a pair of tackles with one for a loss in both the Pac-12 Conference Championship Game vs. Arizona State and in the Rose Bowl vs. Michigan State.

2012 SEASON

Despite playing in a reserve role through thirteen games on the schedule, Mauro finished fourth on the team with five sacks for minus 26 yards…Credited with nineteen tackles (11 solos), recording seven stops for losses of 35 yards and two fumble recoveries…Had a 5-yard sack and a fumble recovery vs. Southern California and tallied lost yardage of ten via 1.5 sacks in the Washington State tilt…Added sacks in each of the UCLA and Colorado contests…Had a key fumble recovery to set up the game-winning touchdown drive vs. Oregon State.

2011 SEASON

Even though Mauro appeared in thirteen games, the defensive end saw minimal playing time to finish with four tackles (2 solos)…Did record a pair of sacks for minus 12 yards, registering one each vs. Washington State and Notre Dame.

2010 SEASON

Mauro appeared in nine games as a reserve defensive lineman, collecting seven tackles (5 solos) with a pass deflection to earn his first varsity letter…Had two tackles in the Sacramento State clash and five more vs. Wake Forest.

2009 SEASON

Did not see action, retaining four years of college eligibility.

INJURY REPORT

No major injuries reported.

AGILITY TESTS

5.21 in the 40-yard dash…1.80 10-yard dash…3.03 20-yard dash…4.51 20-yard shuttle…7.43 three-cone drill…32-inch vertical jump…9’-4” broad jump…Bench pressed 225 pounds 21 times…33-inch arm length…9 ½-inch hands…76 ½-inch wingspan.

HIGH SCHOOL

Mauro attended L.D. Bell (Hurst, Tex.) High School, playing football for head coach Gary Olivo…Regarded as the 31^st-best weak-side defensive end in the nation during his senior season…Earned Dallas Morning News first team all-area and Associated Press all-state honors in 2008…A versatile athlete, he started at defensive end, linebacker, tight end and quarterback during his career…The All-District 5-5A first-team choice also received Fort Worth Star-Telegram Super Team second team all-area and Texas Writers’ Association all-state second team that season…Produced 80 tackles, including twelve behind the line of scrimmage, with twelve sacks, five forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and a blocked kick on offense…Also made seven catches for 155 yards and one touchdown as a tight end…In addition to playing on the gridiron, he also lettered in basketball.

PERSONAL

Mauro is majoring in science, technology and society (management science and engineering)…Son of Joy Christian and Greg Mauro…Brother, Joe, played quarterback at Northwestern…Stepbrother, Nathan, played football at Harding…Stepbrother, Darrick, played football at Blinn, Florida A&M and Harding…Born Joshua Daniel Mauro on 2/17/91 in St. Albans, England…Resides in Hurst, Texas.

PLAYER STATISTICS