A beast is best defined as a person who is brutal, now just use this definition and apply it to the football field because this is exactly what Derrick Mathews was like when he played the game of football. Being an undersized linebacker at six feet tall and weighing 214 pounds you must have a “beast” mentality when you walk onto the football field. No matter what level Derrick Mathews played at he put a 100 percent effort on each and every down he played.
Coming out of North Shore High school, Derrick Mathews was a three-star recruit who fully committed to the University of Houston. In college football, it is a very rare sight to see a freshman start their first year. However, Derrick Mathews had no intention of redshirting his freshman season instead he worked tirelessly during the offseason leading up to the 2011 college football season to show the coaching staff he was a legit starter. You often hear the phrase that "size matters" well I'm here to tell it doesn't as Derrick Mathews started all 14 games his freshman season and put up an outstanding 106 tackles with three interceptions and two forced fumbles coming from the linebacker position.
Derrick Mathews freshman season was just a sample of what was to come in the future. After four seasons with the University of Houston, he accumulated a whopping 400 tackles, 16 sacks, and 4 interceptions. Hard work most definitely pays off as Derrick Mathews an undersized linebacker, who only had two offers coming out off high school has rewritten the record books as he is fifth in all-time tackles for the University of Houston.
Despite going undrafted in the 2015 NFL draft due to a torn ACL during his senior season in college, Derrick Mathews did not give up on his dream of one day playing on Sunday's. His perseverance and hard work paid off as he landed practice squad invites from the Washington Redskins, Green Bay Packers, and the New York Giants. However, even though he did not land a 52 man roster spot his hunger for the game still remained in tack.
Realizing his purpose was beyond playing football, Derrick Mathews decided to pass down his knowledge to up and coming football players by becoming a football coach. Derrick is now a graduate assistant at Texas Southern University making sure young football players get the must needed guidance to make it to the next level. No matter as a player or coach my brother has a passion for football and has been nothing but a constant role model for me in my life.
Comentarios