ChrisMatthews

Returning starter at wide receiver … Made a good adjustment from junior college and was the team’s second-leading pass catcher last season … Had the most receptions by a UK junior-college player in his first season since Jimmy Robinson in 1997 … Should show even more improvement after a year of SEC action … Excellent height and the ability to battle a defender for the tough catch … Has been an outstanding blocker in the run game.

2009 (Junior): Played in all 13 games, starting 12 … Team’s No. 2 receiver with 32 catches for 354 yards and three touchdowns … Made a splash in his first Wildcat appearance with four grabs for 57 yards and a TD vs. Miami (Ohio) … Had a season-best seven catches for 56 yards and a TD against Eastern Kentucky … Tallied a 17-yard touchdown grab in the Music City Bowl … Coaches praised him often for his dedication to blocking for running plays.

Junior College: Among the nation’s top 10 junior-college prospects and the No. 2 wide receiver, as ranked by Rivals.com … Tall receiver posted huge numbers at Los Angeles Harbor College … Caught 80 balls as a
sophomore, good for 1,235 yards and 11 touchdowns in only nine games … His 80 receptions was tops among all 72 California junior colleges that compete in football … First-team junior-college All-America and All-California … Caught 32 passes for 529 yards and four TDs as a freshman …. Has been timed at 4.5 seconds in the 40-yard dash … Coached by Andrew Alvillar and Brett Peabody … “Chris is probably the best junior-college wide receiver in the country,” Peabody said. “He lives up to the saying that `big-time players make big-time plays in big-time games.’ He can beat you short, he can beat you deep, he can beat you across the middle.”

High School: Played tight end and defensive end at Dorsey High School in Los Angeles … Team won a city championship … Tied a school record by catching four touchdown passes in one game … Coached by Paul Knox … Also a forward in basketball, helping the team advance to the state tournament his senior year.

Personal: Born in Long Beach, Calif. … Son of Darell and Michelle Matthews … Comes from a highly athletic family … Darell played football at Lane University … Michelle played basketball at Texas Christian University … Chris is a cousin of the late Reggie White, who played his college football at Tennessee and enjoyed a long NFL career with Philadelphia, Green Bay and Carolina … Major is community communications and leadership development.

Community Cats: Participated in events with Cardinal Hill Hospital (2009), Boy Scouts (2009) and Read Across America (2010).