Casey Matthews

Casey Christopher Matthews (born January 16, 1989) is an American football linebacker for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Eagles in the fourth round of the 2011 NFL Draft. He played college football at Oregon.

Early years
Matthews was born in the Los Angeles district of Northridge to parents Clay and Leslie Matthews. He attended Oaks Christian High School in Westlake Village, California. During his junior year he recorded 132 tackles and four quarterback sacks. As a senior he recorded 158 tackles, ten sacks, and two interceptions. The Oak Christian Lions posted a 15-0 record as the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Division III state champions and finished as the sixth-ranked team in the USA Today national rankings. That season he was named a Long Beach Press-Telegram "Best in the West" honorable mention player. As both a junior and senior, Matthews was named an all-Tri Valley League player, defensive player of the year, and all-county player. SuperPrep ranked him among the top-ten linebackers in the state of California and Scout.com ranked him in the top-25 in the nation.

Matthews was rated a three-star prospect by Scout.com and Rivals.com. He received scholarship offers from Oregon, Arizona State, California, Clemson, Colorado, Georgia Tech, Tennessee, San Diego State, Utah and Mississippi.

College career
Matthews attended the University of Oregon where he studied economics. As a true freshman in 2007, Matthews saw action in the first 11 games including one start against Arizona. He recorded 18 tackles including 11 solo. After suffering a shoulder injury late in the season, he did not play in the game against Oregon State or in the 2007 Sun Bowl.

In 2008 he played in all 13 games and recorded 67 tackles, including 13 tackles for loss and two sacks. Matthews compiled a career-high of nine tackles three times, against California, Stanford, and Oklahoma State. He finished as the team's sixth-leading tackler and third in terms of tackles for loss, with 13.0 for 44 yards. College Football News included him among their "120 Players To Know" and wrote that he is "fundamentally sound, he diagnoses plays well and has a knack for filling the proper lane, a couple of keys to being a successful inside linebacker." Matthews participated in the 2011 BCS National Championship Game, where Oregon lost to Auburn, 22–19. Matthews recorded a forced fumble against Heisman Trophy winner, Cam Newton, which led to a game-tying score late in the fourth quarter.

Matthews finished his college career at the University of Oregon with 50 games played, 245 tackles, nine sacks, and four interceptions.

Pre-draft
Matthews was projected to be drafted in the third or fourth round of the 2011 NFL Draft.

Philadelphia Eagles
Matthews was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fourth round (116th overall) of the 2011 NFL Draft. He was signed to a four-year contract on July 27, 2011. He opened the 2011 NFL season as the Eagles' starting middle linebacker. After two games he was swapped to starting weak-side linebacker and after just one game more he was benched. He became the Eagles starting nickel-linebacker before the Eagles Week 14 game at Miami. He recorded his first career sack in that same game.

Personal
Matthews' father, Clay Matthews, Jr., played football as an All-American at USC and had a 19-year professional football career in the National Football League. His grandfather, Clay Matthews, Sr., and uncle, Bruce Matthews, both played in the NFL as well, and his brother, Clay Matthews III, was selected in the 2009 NFL Draft. His brother Kyle was also a walk-on at USC. He also has cousins involved in football: Kevin Matthews is a center for the Tennessee Titans, Jake Matthews is an offensive tackle for Texas A&M, and Mike Matthews is an offensive lineman for Texas A&M.

On June 27, 2011, Matthews proposed to his girlfriend, Alyssa Grillo, in Hawaii. On July 14, 2012, Casey and Alyssa were married in Los Angeles, California.