Casey Matthews
 Matthews with the Oregon Ducks | |||||||||
| No. -- Free agent | |||||||||
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| Position: | Linebacker | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Date of birth: | January 16, 1989 | ||||||||
| Place of birth: | Northridge, California | ||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 242 lb (110 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | Westlake Village (CA) Oaks Christian | ||||||||
| College: | Oregon | ||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2011 / Round: 4 / Pick: 116 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics as of 2015 | |||||||||
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Casey Christopher Matthews (born January 16, 1989) is an American football linebacker who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fourth round of the 2011 NFL Draft. He played college football at Oregon. He is the brother of Clay Matthews III.
High school career
Matthews attended Oaks Christian School in Westlake Village, California, where he played for the Oaks Christian Lions high school football team. During his junior year he recorded 132 tackles and four quarterback sacks. As a senior he recorded 158 tackles, ten sacks, and two interceptions. The Oak Christian Lions posted a 15-0 record as the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Division III state champions and finished as the sixth-ranked team in the USA Today national rankings. As both a junior and senior, Matthews was named an all-Tri Valley League player, defensive player of the year, and all-county player.[1]
Considered a three-star recruit by Rivals.com,[2] Matthews was listed as the No. 17 inside linebacker in the nation in 2007.[3] He chose Oregon over offers from Arizona State, California, Colorado, Georgia Tech and Ole Miss.
College career
Matthews attended the University of Oregon where he studied economics.[1] As a true freshman in 2007, Matthews saw action in the first 11 games including one start against Arizona. He recorded 18 tackles including 11 solo. After suffering a shoulder injury late in the season, he did not play in the game against Oregon State or in the 2007 Sun Bowl.[1]
In 2008 he played in all 13 games and recorded 67 tackles, including 13 tackles for loss and two sacks.[4] Matthews compiled a career-high of nine tackles three times, against California, Stanford, and Oklahoma State. He finished as the team's sixth-leading tackler and third in terms of tackles for loss, with 13.0 for 44 yards.[1] College Football News included him among their "120 Players To Know" and wrote that he is "fundamentally sound, he diagnoses plays well and has a knack for filling the proper lane, a couple of keys to being a successful inside linebacker."[4] Matthews participated in the 2011 BCS National Championship Game, where Oregon lost to Auburn, 22–19. Matthews recorded a forced fumble against Heisman Trophy winner, Cam Newton, which led to a game-tying score late in the fourth quarter.[5]
Matthews finished his college career at the University of Oregon with 50 games played, 245 tackles, nine sacks and four interceptions.
Professional career
Pre-draft
Matthews was projected to be drafted in the fourth round of the 2011 NFL Draft.[6]
| Ht | Wt | 40-yd dash | 10-yd split | 20-yd split | 20-ss | 3-cone | Vert | Broad | BP | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft 0⅞ in | 231 lb | 4.78 s | 1.67 s | 2.71 s | 4.36 s | 7.10 s | 32½ in | 9 ft 5 in | 13 reps | ||||||||||
| All values from Pro Day workout on March 10.[6] | |||||||||||||||||||
Philadelphia Eagles
Matthews was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fourth round (116th overall) of the 2011 NFL Draft.[7] He was signed to a four-year contract on July 27, 2011. He opened the 2011 NFL season as the Eagles' starting middle linebacker. After two games he was swapped to starting weak-side linebacker and after just one game more he was benched. He became the Eagles starting nickel-linebacker before the Eagles Week 14 game at Miami. He recorded his first career sack in that same game.
Minnesota Vikings
Matthews was signed by the Vikings as a free agent on March 24, 2015, and was immediately placed on injured reserve.
Personal
Matthews was born in Northridge, California to parents Clay and Leslie Matthews. His father Clay Matthews, Jr. played football as an All-American at USC and had a 19-year professional football career in the National Football League.[1] His grandfather Clay Matthews, Sr. and uncle Bruce Matthews both played in the NFL, as well as his brother Clay Matthews III.[4] His brother Kyle was also a walk-on at USC. He also has cousins involved in football: Kevin Matthews was a center for the Tennessee Titans, Jake Matthews is an offensive tackle for the Atlanta Falcons and Mike Matthews is a center for the Cleveland Browns.
On June 27, 2011, Matthews proposed to his girlfriend, Alyssa Grillo, in Hawaii. On July 14, 2012, they were married in Los Angeles, California.
The Matthews football family tree:
- H. L. Matthews
- Clay Matthews, Sr.
- Clay Matthews, Jr.
- Clay Matthews III
- Casey Matthews
- Bruce Matthews
- Kevin Matthews
- Jake Matthews
- Mike Matthews
- Clay Matthews, Jr.
- Clay Matthews, Sr.
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 Casey Matthews. GoDucks.com. Retrieved June 5, 2009.
- ↑ Casey Matthews Recruiting Profile
- ↑ Rivals.com inside linebackers 2007
- 1 2 3 120 Players You Need To Know. College Football News. April 9, 2009.
- ↑ Auburn claims SEC's fifth straight national title by dropping Oregon on late field goal. ESPN.com. January 10, 2011.
- 1 2 "Casey Matthews, DS #4 ILB, Oregon". nfldraftscout.com. Retrieved May 2, 2011.
- ↑ "Casey Matthews Drafted in 4th Round". 247 Sports. Retrieved April 29, 2013.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from NFL.com • ESPN • Pro-Football-Reference
- Oregon Ducks bio
- NFL Combine profile