Hall of Fame
Position: Running Back
Years: 1982-1985
Place of Birth: North Battleford, SK
Date of Birth: Jun 06, 1963
Jersey Number: 36
Height: 6-0
Weight: 200
High School: Battleford Comprehensive HS (North Battleford, SK)
Washington State's Rueben Mayes rewrote every Cougar rushing record during his career, firmly establishing himself as one of the finest running backs in Pac-10 annals. By career's end, the 1984 consensus First Team All-America set 15 school records, including single-season (1,632) and career rushing yards (3,519), rushing touchdowns (23), rushing average (5.53) and 100-yard games (13). Additionally, he established an NCAA Division I single-game record with a 357-yard rushing performance against Oregon in 1984. Twice named the Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year, the North Battleford, Saskatchewan, native was the first Cougar in history to boast two 1,000-yard rushing seasons. A third round selection in the 1986 NFL draft, Mayes played six seasons in the league with the New Orleans Saints and Seattle Seahawks. He received Offensive Rookie of the Year honors in 1986 and earned two trips to the Pro Bowl. He later returned to school, obtaining his M.B.A. in 2000. Mayes was named to the WSU al-time team in 1995 and was inducted into the university's Hall of Fame in 1993.
