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- Mar 19, 2019
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Moments after Mattison was drafted by Minnesota, NFL Media analyst Daniel Jeremiah have his take on the Boise State product.
“Boise State has had some running backs come into the league,” Jeremiah said. “He’s a north-south runner when he’s lined up in the backfield, everything is downhill. He has a slithery style to him. They also put him out in the slot and use him on some of those fly sweeps, and I thought he caught the ball pretty well when he had the opportunities. You could see him catch balls outside of his frame.”
Mattison led the Mountain West Conference with 1,415 rushing yards and 17 rushing touchdowns in 2018, becoming the first Boise State player to claim a conference rushing crown in school history.
But it was the final four games of the 2018 season that helped Mattison get on the map. He had 127 carries for 689 yards and seven touchdowns in four games to cap his college career.
That stretch included back-to-back 200-yard games in the final two games of the season against Utah State and Fresno State, respectively.
“It was just the right timing. We needed some things to happen, and I was able to put myself in a position to step up to the plate,” Mattison said. “I told my coaches that I’d never shy away from anything, and I’m so grateful they were able to tell me they’d put the team on my back and give me these carries.
“Obviously, half the time I didn’t realize how many carries I had during those games. It was amazing to get out there and play with my brothers and lay it all out on the line,” Mattison added. “In order for us to be successful, I was going to have to do that.”
A multi-sport athlete in high school, Mattison grew up in Southern California and was a league-champion wrestler as well as 110-meter hurdler in addition to starring on the gridiron.
He produced 2,829 rushing yards and 33 touchdowns in three seasons for Boise State, and now finds himself in Purple, and in a backfield that includes Dalvin Cook.
“I’m just looking forward to the opportunity to come in and go ahead and be anything the team needs me to be … special teams, offense … I’m willing to work and put in the work and am willing to contribute anyway that I can,” Mattison said. “I’m just going to work my butt off. I’m looking forward to playing with Dalvin.
“I’ve watched him play, and I look up to how he runs and how he carries himself,” Mattison added. “I can’t wait to get in there and collaborate and make that backfield a dynamic duo.”
Added Spielman: “We felt Mattison was just a unique back and a back that fit all our traits we were looking for, especially with the run game that we’re going to have and the workhorse that he can be.”