Jordan Matthews
Jordan Armand Matthews (born July 16, 1992) is an American football tight end for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Vanderbilt and was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft. Matthews has also played for the Buffalo Bills and New England Patriots, starting his career as a wide receiver before switching positions after the 2020 season. Early life and high school Matthews was born on July 16, 1992, in Madison, Alabama. He attended Madison Academy where he lettered in football and basketball. As a senior at Madison Academy, Matthews led the football team to a 12–1 record. For his high school football career at Madison Academy, Matthews had 181 receptions, 3,218 receiving yards, and 38 touchdowns. Recruiting Matthews was a three star recruit. Auburn began recruiting Matthews during his junior year of high school when Phillip Lolley, the director of Football External Operations at the time, called the Matthewses. Matthews was planning to walk on at Auburn before receiving an offer from Vanderbilt. Matthews received a scholarship offer from Vanderbilt head coach Bobby Johnson on Christmas Eve in 2009 after wide receiver prospect and eventual Ohio State cornerback Bradley Roby de-committed from Vanderbilt. Matthews only received scholarship offers from Vanderbilt, Kansas, Tulane, Arkansas St., and Jacksonville St. Matthews committed to Vanderbilt on December 26, 2009. College career As a true freshman at Vanderbilt, Matthews had 15 receptions for 181 yards and four touchdowns in 2010. As a sophomore in 2011, he had 41 receptions for 778 yards and five touchdowns. Matthews was included in the 2012 Biletnikoff Award Watch List. As a junior in 2012, Matthews was a first-team All-SEC selection and was named third-team All-America by Phil Steele and CBSSportsline. He finished the season with 94 receptions for 1,323 yards and eight touchdowns. Matthews was included on the 2013 Maxwell Award Watch List and the 2013 CFPA Wide Receiver Trophy Watch List. As a senior in 2013, Matthews was again a first-team All-SEC selection. He would also be named a first-team All-American by USA Today, Athlon, CBS Sports, Sports Illustrated, and the Associated Press. During the season, he set the all-time SEC record for career receptions and career receiving yards. Matthews also was a semi-finalist for the Biletnikoff Award and won the 2013 CFPA Elite Wide Receiver Trophy. On November 16, 2013, Matthews was named SEC Offensive Player of the Week. In his final college game, he was the MVP of the 2014 BBVA Compass Bowl after recording five receptions for 143 yards and two touchdowns. He finished the season with 112 receptions for 1,477 yards and seven touchdowns. Matthews' 112 receptions in 2013 set the SEC record for most receptions in a single season. Amari Cooper broke this record a year later with 124 receptions. For his collegiate career, Matthews had 262 receptions for 3,759 yards, both marks serving as both SEC and school records. His 24 career touchdowns are also the best