http://www.nflfans.com/draft/2005/showplayer.php?key=Will Matthews
Pros: Tough lead blocker for Cedric Benson. Durable. Special teams capable.
Cons: Little offensive experience other than that as a blocker.
Draft Exchange Analysis:
Will Matthews FB Texas 6'3" 260
Will Matthews is a 23 year old 5th year senior. AT 6'3" and 260 lbs, Matthews has probably the most colorful information I uncovered.
What some people may know Matthews for is being the lead blocker for Cedric Benson.
He describes his playing style as rough and straight ahead, and that possibly is hat earned him the nickname "Headache".
In his time at Texas, he managed 211 yards on 51 carries, for an average of 4.13 per carry. 4 of those carries had him crossing the goal line. He also was on the receiving of 9 tosses for 43 yards. One of those gave his team 6 points.
A sometimes and reserve back and special teamer, he was the recipient of a couple of UT awards. He won "Most Consistent Offensive Player, and possibly more importantly, the Joseph W. Moore Award for Tenacity. After the Oklahoma game, he was the Darrel K. Royal Offensive Player of the Week.
He's considered a humble guy, one that gives everything for the team, accepts whatever role is assigned to him.
In high school he put up 1074 yards on 199 caries, which rounds out to a respectable 5.4 yards per average, and this was primarily using him as a blocking back!
The NFL players he most admires are Darryl Johnston, Thurman Thomas and Jerome Bettis. His favorite cartoon character is Wolverine of the X-Men. I guess that explains his tenacity. The players were always leaving their hearts on the field. And Wolverine? He's just plain tough.
A Youth and Communities Studies major, he has mentored at local elementary schools and was active in UT's community service programs. Hoping to make the NFL, he would like to do something in sports medicine after his career.
Sometimes it's not just a player can bring to the field physically, and I think that Will Matthews has not just the physical ability to play, but the innate qualities that make a an above average player excel.
A big, physical fifth-year fullback who is Taxas’ returning starter at that position … a tremendous blocker and powerful runner who has played a key role in Cedric Benson rushing for 1,360 yards and scoring an NCAA-leading 21 rushing TDs last season … also a member of special teams … has played in 36 career games, starting two, and rushed 14 times for 51 yards and three touchdowns … 13 of those rushes came in 2003 for 49 yards and all three TDs, to go along with one reception for five yards … gained experience at fullback and was a valuable member of the Longhorns special teams as a sophomore … posted five special teams tackles in 2002 … saw action at fullback and on special teams in ’01 as well … spent his true freshman season working at fullback while redshirting.
Junior (2003) Appeared in all 13 games and started two at fullback while seeing time on special teams … shared UT’s Most Consistent Offensive Players honors and earned one of UT’s Joseph W. Moore Awards (tenacity) ... a key blocker for a Longhorn offense that ranked eighth nationally in rushing (232.5 ypg) and sixth in scoring (41.0 ppg) ... helped pave the way for Cedric Benson to rush for 1,360 yards (No. 5 on UT’s single-season list) and an NCAA-leading 21 TDs (No. 3 on UT’s single-season list) … UT recorded four 300-yard rushing games and rushed for 3,023 yards in 2003, both were the most since 1977 … UT’s 41 rushing touchdowns were the fourth most nationally … Texas set school records for points (533) and total yards (5,709) on the year ... rushed two times for 14 yards, including a career-long seven-yarder in the opener against New Mexico State … posted one carry for four yards at Rice … registered five yards on two carries against Tulane … carried the ball twice against No. 12 Nebraska for six yards … had career highs of four carries, 18 yards and three touchdowns at No. 21 Oklahoma State … the three touchdowns were the first of his career and included a seven-yarder that tied his career-long rush … was named UT’s Darrel K Royal Offensive Player of the Week against No. 21 Oklahoma State … also saw action on special teams and recorded three tackles.
Sophomore (2002) Appeared in all 12 games as a reserve fullback and on special teams … helped the offense score 33.8 points per game, which ranked fifth in the Big 12 and 16th nationally … helped open holes for UT’s eighth consecutive 1,000-yard rusher in sophomore Cedric Benson (1,293 yards) … shared UT’s Darrell K Royal Offensive Player of the Week honors after helping the offense pile up a season-high 569 total yards at North Carolina … also has recorded five special teams tackles (three solo).
Redshirt Freshman (2001) Saw limited action, primarily on special teams … also played fullback … had one carry for two yards … added one reception for four yards … redshirted in 2000.
High School Coached by Jerry Spradlin at Westwood High … racked up 1,074 rushing yards on 199 carries (5.4 yards per carry) en route to first-team all-district and team MVP honors that year … produced those numbers despite being Westwood’s primary blocking back … scored 11 touchdowns (nine rushing/two receiving) … was a solid receiver out of the backfield who posted more than 100 yards receiving and caught three touchdown passes in 1999.
Personal Born 4/30/81 in Radford, Va. … full name is William Robert Matthews … a youth and community studies major … active in UT’s community service program … mentors at local elementary schools … lists singing, playing acoustic guitar and drawing among his hobbies … has worked at a camp for underprivileged children during summer breaks.
