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Why Washington DE/OLB Joe Mathis Will Impress In NFL Draft

By Bret Stuter

Sep 19, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Washington Huskies defensive lineman Joe Mathis (5) grabs Utah State Aggies running back LaJuan Hunt (21) during the first half at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 19, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Washington Huskies defensive lineman Joe Mathis (5) grabs Utah State Aggies running back LaJuan Hunt (21) during the first half at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports /
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NCAA Football: Utah State at Washington
NCAA Football: Utah State at Washington /

Washington Husky sack master DE/OLB Joe Mathis may not be drafted in day one of the 2017 NFL Draft. But the team who chooses him will be very glad they did.

Washington defensive end Joe Mathis was deeply disappointed in the 2016 NCAA football season.  He is a pass rush specialist, a “tweener” guy who is a lightning fast defensive end or a hard impacting outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense.

In the NFL, either way he is projected, he’s good, he’s rare, and he’s projected to be a huge upside for the NFL team that takes him.

Why?

There simply is not as much film on Joe Mathis as other top prospects in the nation.

So Close.. And yet So Far

He is a young incredibly talented young man who was truly on the cusp of a breakout year in 2016.  He joined the team following successful recruiting by the former head coach Steve Sarkisian.  In fact, Sports Illustrated reported in November 2016 that Mathis had some doubts about his fit with new head coach Chris Petersen.  Per that same Sports Illustrated report, Mathis was having an incredible start to the 2016 season.  He was already the team leader with quarterback pressure with five sacks in his first six games.  In fact, per Pro Football Focus,

Mathis led the nation in pass-rush productivity by an edge defender until he fell to injury.

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