The Nation’s leading rusher, junior RB Ryan Matthews from Fresno State, has decided to enter the 2010 NFL Draft.  Mathews led the nation in rushing with 1,808 yards on 276 carrier averaging 6.6 yards per carry.  Matthews also rushed for 19 TDs.   Mathews also had 11 receptions for 122 yards.

Matthews is known to run with speed and power.  He uses the speed and power for burst running and it attributed to he impressive 6.6 yards per carry.  What hurts Matthews is the fact he played at Fresno State and the competition was not impressive.

When we take a look at when Fresno State did play some tough competition, Matthews production did not falter.  In a loss to ranked Boise State, Matthews did pile up a whopping 234 yards rushing on a measley 19 carriers, averaging over 12 yards per carry.   He also put up over 100 yards against 2 big ten teams, Wisconsin and Illinois.  Against undefeated Cincinatti, Matthews ran for 145 yards on 38 carriers, including an addition 32 yards receiving.  In Matthews defense, when he had gone up against tougher scheduled teams, he never ran for less than 100 yards.

Is Mathews a first round back?  I don’t think so.  I see CJ Spiller and Johnathan Dwyer, and Jahvid Best going off the board before Matthews.  However, Matthews could be a guy to watch at the NFL Combine and could easily work himself into the first round.

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