Ryan Mathews' Player Profile

Mathews broke onto the national scene in a huge way this past fall during his junior season by leading the nation in rushing. He averaged 150.67 yards per game in 12 games and totaled 1,808 yards on 276 carries with 19 touchdowns. Even before this season, Mathews showed glimpses of the elite talent that was to come. During his freshman season, he led all NCAA freshman in yards per carry and touchdowns. As a sophomore, Mathews ranked in the top ten in the NCAA in rushing after four games. In the fourth game against UCLA, Mathews amassed 191 total yards and 2 touchdowns before going down with an ankle injury late in the game. After the injury, he missed most of the next three games and sat out the final five games.

Overall, Mathews is a solidly built, powerful runner capable of carrying defenders three to four yards after initial contact. He also has a crushing stiff arm. Despite being thought of more as power back, Ryan is explosive to the hole with no wasted movements in the backfield and has the ability to take it the distance (led NCAA with 7 runs of 50 plus yards last season). At the combine, he was clocked with an official forty of 4.45 seconds, which was 3rd among all running backs. Mathews was only behind C.J. Spiller and Jahvid Best, despite carrying nearly twenty more pounds of muscle on his frame. Ryan also benefited from playing in a pro-style offense under coach Pat Hill. He has experience picking up the blitz and should be a good blocker at the next level. Mathews was never used much in the passing game, so he will have to prove himself in this aspect of his game. The only knock on Ryan is that he has missed time due to injuries in each of his three years at Fresno State.

At this point, after Mathews' performance at the combine and the Fresno State pro day, he is considered the second best running back prospect in the draft and is projected as a mid to late first round pick. Ryan led the nation with 3,396 yards and 44 touchdowns as a senior at West High Schoolin Bakersfield, California and did it again as a junior at Fresno State. What does Mathews have in store for the NFL?
Profile submitted by: Craig Watts

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Ryan Mathews Videos

Ryan Mathews Highlights vs New Mexico State and Wyoming

Ryan Mathews Highlights

Ryan Mathews TD vs UCLA 20008

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