Age: 22
1st
season in pro football
College: Hampton
Height: 5’11” Weight: 181
Prelude:
With his
great speed that also made him a college track star, Mathis accumulated 4541
all-purpose yards that included 93 pass receptions for 2456 yards (26.4 avg.)
and 21 touchdowns and a 26.6-yard average on 62 kickoffs. He ranked second in
the nation with an average of 160.8 all-purpose yards per game and was chosen
by the Texans in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL draft. Mathis handled
kickoffs as a rookie and also took over punt return duties when CB Phillip
Buchanon was injured, although he was less adept at fielding punts.
2005 Season Summary
Appeared in 12
of 16 games
[Bracketed
numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]
Kickoff
Returns
Returns – 54
[10]
Yards – 1542
[5]
Most yards,
game – 266 (on 7 ret.) vs. Indianapolis 10/23, (on 7 ret.) vs. Kansas City
11/20
Average per
return – 28.6 [2]
TDs – 2 [1]
Longest
return – 99 yards
Punt Returns
Returns – 12
Yards – 68
Most yards,
game – 29 (on 5 ret.) at Baltimore 12/4
Average per
return – 5.7
TDs – 0
Longest
return – 19 yards
Pass
Receiving
Receptions – 5
Yards – 65
Average gain
– 13.0
TDs – 1
Scoring
TDs – 3
Points – 18
Awards &
Honors:
1st
team All-NFL: AP, PFWA, Sporting News
1st
team All-AFC: Pro Football Weekly
Pro Bowl
Texans went 2-14
to finish fourth in the AFC South with the NFL’s worst record.
Aftermath:
Injuries
limited Mathis to five games over the next two seasons and he was let go by the
Texans, having averaged 28.5 yards on 72 kickoffs with three TDs. He was
briefly signed during the offseason with the Redskins, was waived, and moved on
to the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL, although injuries caused him to be cut and
re-signed during the 2009 season. Mathis played in the Arena Football League in
2011 with the Pittsburgh Power and in nine games caught 30 passes for 418 yards
and 7 TDs and returned 31 kickoffs for a 22.2-yard average and a touchdown.
--
Highlighted Years features players who were consensus
first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the
following statistical categories:
Rushing:
Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Passing:
Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating
Receiving:
Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Scoring: TDs,
Points, Field Goals (min. 5)
All-Purpose:
Total Yards
Defense:
Interceptions, Sacks
Kickoff
Returns: Average
Punt Returns:
Average
Punting:
Average
*Leagues
include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL
(1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)
**NFC/AFC
since 1970
