The Passion Of Joe Mathis

Football Career His Life’s Destiny

Joe Mathis began playing football at the age of five. At age five, a young boy is hardly committing to life changing decisions. But Fate sets a young man on the path early. You see, Mathis had four sisters.  With so many women in his life, it came as no small wonder that he sought an outlet for his male testosterone hormones.

His football trek was his natural calling. He played well and found the game to be a more than enjoyable. It was fulfilling. And it opened opportunities.  He was no different than any other young man. But he has a special bond with his father. A man who was more mentor than disciplinarian. That suited young Joe just fine:

"“Growing up, he was the greatest dad ever,” Mathis said. “He got me into football. (My father) pushed me. He taught me that, if you really want something, go get it and never back down from anybody. Stick with football, it’s going to set you up for life,”"

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So Easy So Early

And so he did. He started as a true freshman earning his varsity letter. By the time he was beginning to get noticed  by colleges, he earned LOTS of attention.

"“The University of Washington recruited me often, especially in the last couple of months before my decisions. Alabama visited me often too. Recruiting was hard. I was one of the top rated players out of high school, and colleges come after you. Ultimately, I connected with the Washington Huskies coaches and made my decision."

Per 247sports.com, Mathis was indeed a highly regarded recruit. He was a 4-star defensive tackle rated 189 in the nation for all players, 17th in the nation for defensive tackles, and 22nd overall from California.