NFL TOP Player -- Tyrann Mathieu

   
Tyrann Devin Mathieu, is an American football free safety and cornerback for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League. He played college football for Louisiana State University. Wikipedia
Born: May 13, 1992 (age 22), New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
40 yard dash time: 4.51 seconds
Nickname: Honey Badger
Height: 5' 9" (1.75 m)
Current team: Arizona Cardinals (#32 / Free Safety)
Salary: 405,000 USD (2013)

Personal:

Name pronounced “TY-run” “Matthew” … attended St. Augustine (New Orleans, La.) High School, where he was regarded as one of the premier DB prospects in the state … rated as the 13th-best CB in the nation by Rivals.com, Mathieu was named to the New Orleans Times-Picayune 2010 Blue-Chip List, the Baton Rouge Advocate Super Dozen and the Mobile Press Register Super Southeast 120 as a senior ... also received Super Prep All-America honors after he recorded 32 tackles, five INTs, a sack and a fumble recovery as a senior … concluded his prep career participating in the inaugural Team USA vs. The World game … Sports Administration major.



Biography

NoteCARDS:

    In two seasons with LSU, Mathieu became one of the most electrifying playmakers in college football. He recorded eight fumble recoveries (two returned for TDs), 11 forced fumbles, four INTs, 16 tackles for loss, 16 passes defensed and six sacks, while also returning 27 punts for 421 yards (15.6 avg.) and two TDs.
    Had an outstanding sophomore campaign in 2011 when he was a Heisman Trophy finalist, recipient of the Bednarik Award as the nation’s top defensive player and unanimous first-team All-American. He was the first DB invited to the Heisman Trophy ceremony in New York since Michigan’s Charles Woodson won the award in 1997.
    In Arizona, will play on a defensive unit that features former LSU teammates CB Patrick Peterson and LB Kevin Minter.

    Despite playing just two seasons, his 11 forced fumbles established an LSU career record and tied the SEC all-time mark. In all, Mathieu created a total of 14 turnovers (8 FR, 4 INT, 2 FF) and scored four TDs (2 punt returns, 2 fumble returns).

    Among his 14 starts at LSU were 10 at cornerback, three at nickel back and one at free safety.

College Career:

Appeared in 26 games with 14 starts at LSU, totaling 133 tackles, six sacks, 16 tackles for loss and four QB pressures … recorded nine passes defensed, four INTs, eight fumble recoveries and established a school career-record and tied the SEC all-time mark with 11 forced fumbles … served as the team’s punt returner in 2011, totaling 27 returns for 421 yards and two TDs.

2013:In a Week 1 loss to the St. Louis Rams, Mathieu forced a fumble on tight end Jared Cook Jr. by knocking the ball out of his hand just before he entered the endzone allowing one of his teammates to recover the football. In a Week 2 win against the Lions, Mathieu made the game winning tackle when he stopped Nate Burleson short on 4th and 4.In the Week 3 loss against the New Orleans Saints, Mathieu intercepted a Drew Brees endzone pass for his first career interception.On December 8, Mathieu tore both his ACL and LCL in a victory over the St. Louis Rams. On December 10, he was placed on the injured reserve, officially ending his rookie season.

2013 NFL Draft:On April 26, 2013, the Arizona Cardinals selected Mathieu with the 69th overall pick in the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft.

2012: A consensus All-American and unanimous All-SEC first-team preseason selection, Mathieu was dismissed from the team on 8/10 during fall camp.

2011: Garnered numerous postseason honors following his sophomore season, including the Bednarik Award as the nation’s top defensive player … a Heisman Trophy finalist, Mathieu was the first LSU Heisman finalist invited to New York since Charles Alexander in 1977; was also the first defensive back invited to the Heisman Trophy ceremony since Michigan’s Charles Woodson won the award in 1997 … started all 13 games he appeared in and was a unanimous All-America first-team choice after posting 76 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 7.5 tackles for loss and three QB pressures … named a team captain … ranked sixth in the nation with six forced fumbles and third with five fumble recoveries, two of which he returned for TDs … gained 16 yards on two INTs and added nine passes defensed … ranked second in the SEC and fourth in the nation as he returned 27 punts for 421 yards (15.6 avg.) and two TDs … named the SEC Championship game MVP vs. Georgia after he returned a punt 62 yards for a TD; finished with 119 return yards, posted four solo tackles and a fumble recovery; became just the second player to return a punt for a TD in the game’s history and the first defensive player to win the MVP award since 1994 … received the Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week and SEC Defensive Player of the Week honors after he posted eight solo tackles, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery vs. Arkansas in his first career start at safety; also returned a punt 92 yards for a TD vs. the Razorbacks, which equaled the third-longest punt return in school history ... picked up where he left off in 2010 by recording a career-high and team-leading 10 tackles in the season opener vs. Oregon and also forced a fumble on a punt that he returned for his first career TD; earned SEC Defensive Player of the Week and Thorpe Award Defensive Back of the Week honors after his performance, which also included two passes defensed.

2010: Named the 2011 Cotton Bowl Defensive Most Outstanding Player, Mathieu added first-team freshman All-America honors from the Football Writers Association and was selected to the SEC All-Freshman team by the league’s coaches … serving as a reserve CB behind All-American Patrick Peterson on the right side and as the nickel back, he played in all 13 games as a true freshman with one start at left CB vs. Louisiana-Monroe ... ranked first in the SEC and fifth nationally with five forced fumbles and tied for first in the conference with three fumble recoveries ... led the team with seven passes defensed and was fourth on the Tigers squad with 57 tackles, while adding 8.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and two INTs … earned Cotton Bowl Defensive Most Outstanding Player award after recording seven tackles, one tackle for loss, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, an INT, a sack and one pass defensed … had an outstanding effort in his first game as a Tiger as he delivered nine tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, a sack and a forced fumble in the opener vs. North Carolina.