Capitalizing on good season, Fresno’s Ryan Matthews jumps to NFL

According to ESPN’s Joe Schad, Fresno State running back Ryan Matthews has decided to forgo his senior season and enter the draft.

Matthews goes pro following a season in which he led Division I in rushing yards per game with 151.3 per contest. For his career, Mathews ran for 3,280 yards and 39 touchdowns.

This season was the first where he was healthy throughout. Against Wyoming in the New Mexico Bowl, Matthews ran for 144 yards and two touchdowns on 33 carries.

“Ryan Mathews had an outstanding year,” Fresno head coach Pat Hill told reporters. “I feel very comfortable that if he decides to leave early, he’ll have the confidence to move on and succeed at the next level.

The strongest point of Matthews’ game is his ability to break tackles. He’s big at 220 pounds and muscles through single defenders.

His speed might not be the greatest, but he clearly knows how to generate positive yards. Matthews projects as a late second or early third round prospect.