CLAY MATTHEWS

ARPER

USC

#47

PROJECTION:  1st-2nd Round     COMPARISON:  Bobby Carpenter

CLASS SENIOR

HEIGHT 6-3

WEIGHT 240 lbs.

HOMETOWN Agoura Hills, CA

HIGH SCHOOL Agoura

BIRTHDAY 5/14/1986

SCOUTING REPORT

STRENGTHS: Relentless & nonstop motor...Versatile & natural athleticism...Excellent technique...Very Physical

WEAKNESSES: Still learning...Lacks elite experience...Some durability concerns...Lacks true position in NFL

OVERALL: A former walk-on, Clay Matthews III has excellent bloodlines and is a classic overachiever and worked his way to be the prospect that he is now. He redshirted in 2004 and made his mark on special teams early in his career. Matthews wasn’t offered a scholarship until 2005 and was stuck behind several LB on the Trojans’ depth chart. He started a pair of games in 2007 as a junior in place of Brian Cushing before playing a hybrid position as a senior as a DE/OLB where he could rush the passer as an end, but also drop back on several plays. Matthews has a nonstop motor and is very relentless in his playing style. He doesn’t stop moving and is excellent in pursuit. Matthews has worked hard to improve his technique and he might display the best fundamentals of any LB in this class. He puts himself in positions to make the play with excellent balance and good pad level. He flashes an old-school type of skill-set and isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty. Matthews is good in coverage and shows fluid hips and a smooth backpedal. He is a very good tackler and can also lay the wood. Matthews is a versatile with experience at both DE and LB, but is a tweener prospect who might be without a position at the next level and limited to a 34 defense. He doesn’t have the experience teams look for and is still learning. Matthews was named to the All-Pac 10 Second Team and is the nephew of Hall of Famer Bruce Matthews and son of Clay Matthews Jr. and grandson of Clay Matthews, both NFL greats.

BOTTOM LINE: A coaches dream because of his nonstop motor and relentless attitude, Matthews is a tweener prospect who will work his way onto the playing field, but might not have a natural NFL position.

2008 STATISTICS