Clay Matthews SELECTED BY: Packers Round 1 (26)

SI Grade 4.00 GRADING SYSTEM

BIOGRAPHY: Former walk-on who broke into the starting lineup as a senior and won all-Conference honors after totaling 56/9/4.5. Has lined up at defensive end and several linebacker positions for the Trojans.

POSITIVES: Instinctive, hard-working linebacker whose draft stock is on the rise. Displays terrific football awareness, quickly locates the ball or diagnoses plays. Breaks down well, quickly changes direction, and rarely off his feet. Stacks well against the run, and wraps up tackling. Forceful up the field, effectively uses his hands to protect himself and wraps up ball handlers at the point of attack. Goes very hard and relentless in pursuit of the action. Effectively makes plays in space.

NEGATIVES: Not fluid moving in reverse. Marginally productive until his senior season.

ANALYSIS: Matthews comes off a tremendous senior campaign, and he elevated every aspect of his game. He was not rated by NFL scouting services coming into his senior season, but he is now poised to potentially break into the late part of round one. The versatility to be used at a number of linebacker spots as a three-down defender will help Matthews quickly see playing time as a rookie in the NFL.

PROJECTION: First/Second Round