Jesse Matthews Season 2022

Final Bio

HONORS
* 2022 Honorable Mention All-Mountain West
* 2019 SDSU Byron H. Chase Memorial Trophy Offensive Player of the Year 
* 2019 SDSU Co-Outstanding Freshman Award
* 2018 SDSU Offensive Scout Player of the Year
* 2021 Tropical Smoothie Frisco Bowl Most Valuable Offensive Player
* 2019 New Mexico Bowl Co-Most Valuable Offensive Player 
* 2021 ESPN All-Bowl Team

Former walk-on, who earned a scholarship just before the team’s New Mexico Bowl appearance in 2019 ... Solid route-runner, who burst onto the scene after a fantastic 2019 spring campaign ... Has arguably the best vertical jump of the Aztec receivers ... Makes incredible catches look easy ... Entered the 2019 fall camp as the No. 4 ‘Z’ receiver, but worked himself into a starting role by the opener ... Also can return punts ... Was one of 27 players in program history with at least five 100-yard receiving games ... Ranked eighth all-time at SDSU in catches (174), 13th in receiving yards (2,109) and tied for 14th in receiving touchdowns (15) ... In three career bowl games, he totaled 21 receptions for 385 yards and four touchdowns, twice winning offensive MVP honors (shared the award with Jordan Byrd at the 2019 New Mexico Bowl and won the 2021 Frisco Bowl).

SENIOR SEASON (2022)
Was named an honorable-mention all-Mountain West selection by the league’s head coaches and league media ... Was one of SDSU’s four team captains ... Racked up numerous preseason accolades, including being named to the Senior Bowl Watch List, as wall as a first-team all-Mountain West selection by the league’s media, as well as Phil Steele Magazine and Athlon Sports ... Also was a preseason second-team selection by Lindy’s Sports ... Ranked as “SDSU’s No. 5 player” by Athlon ... Also was a “SDSU player to watch” by Lindy’s Sports ... Had a team-high 45 catches for 508 yards (11.3 avg.) with three touchdowns and a long catch of 31 yards in 12 starts and 13 games played ... Also returned three punts for 11 yards (3.7 avg.) ... Has three tackles as well ... Came up with two catches for 18 yards (9.0 avg.) in a start in 42 snaps vs. Arizona on Sept. 3 ... The long reception was 15 yards ... Came up with eight catches for 24 yards (8.0 avg.) with a long of 13 yards against Idaho State on Sept. 10 while playing 48 snaps ... Had a 15-yard catch in 37 snaps in a start at No. 14/15 Utah on Sept. 17 ... Also had a solo tackle on an Aztec turnover ... Made three catches for 11 yards (3.7 avg.) with a long of seven yards, starting and playing 49 snaps in a start vs. Toledo on Sept. 24 ... Came up with a 26-yard catch on a third-and-7 at Boise State on Sept. 30 ... Started and played 45 of the 53 offensive snaps ... Had his most productive game of the season against Hawai’i on Oct. 8, making six catches for 68 yards (11.3 avg.) with a long of 25 yards ... Played 69 of the team’s 73 snaps in the game ... Came up with three catches for 27 yards (9.0 avg.) with a long of 15 yards in a start at Nevada on Oct. 22, playing 63 of the team’s 67 snaps ... Had four catches for 37 yards and a touchdown in 57 snaps at Fresno State on Oct. 29 ... The touchdown was his first of the season ... Had five catches for a season-high 84 yards (16.8 acg.) and a touchdown  in 65 snaps off the bench vs. UNLV on Nov. 5 ... Included in the five catches was a season long of 28 yards ... Caught four passes for 57 yards (14.3 avg.) and a touchdown in a start and 65 snaps vs. San José State on Nov. 12 ... Caught a touchdown pass for the third straight game after not having a touchdown the first seven games of the season ... Now has three touchdowns this year and 15 for his career (T-14th in SDSU history) ... Has 161 receptions for his career which rank eighth in program history ... Also made a tackle after an Aztec turnover ... Was called upon for a pair of catches for 13 yards (6.5) with along of nine in 51 snaps in a start at New Mexico on Nov. 18 ... Had a team-high four receptions for 29 yards (7.3 avg.) with a long of 13 yards in a start and 45 offensive snaps vs. Air Force on Senior Night on Nov. 26 ... Became the 14th Aztec with 2,000 career receiving yards ... Had season highs of seven catches and 99 yards in his last collegiate game against Middle Tennessee in the Hawai’i Bowl on Dec. 24 in snaps ... Finished his SDSU career ranked eighth all-time in catches (174), 13th in receiving yards (2,109) and tied for 14th in receiving touchdowns (15) ... In his three career bowl games, he had 21 receptions for 385 yards and four touchdowns.

JUNIOR SEASON (2021)
Racked up numerous preseason accolades, including being named a second-team selection as a punt returner by Phil Steele Magazine, a third-team punt returner by Athlon Sports and wide receiver by Pro Football Focus, a fourth-team receiver by Phil Steele Magazine and a honorable-mention punt returner by Pro Football Focus ... College Football News deemed him as “SDSU’s fourth-best offensive player” and the “Key San Diego State player to a successful season” ... Started 13 of the team’s 14 games and played in all 14 ... Had team highs of 57 catches, 642 yards and nine touchdowns, averaging 11.3 yards per reception ... Also rushed three times for 5 yards (1.7 avg.) ... Also threw a 2-point conversion to quarterback Lucas Johnson ... The nine touchdown catches were the most by an Aztec since Vincent Brown had 10 in 2010 and tied for the 11th most in a season ... Ranked eighth in the Mountain West in receiving touchdowns (9, T-31st in FBS) ... Over his final four games, he totaled 37 catches for 465 yards and seven touchdowns ... Started for the 11th straight game at wide receiver in the opener against New Mexico State on Sept. 4, making a 5-yard catch and recording a 6-yard rush across 34 snaps ... Finished with a 5-yard grab in 31 snaps in a start at Arizona on Sept. 11, while rushing twice for a 1-yard loss ... Had two catches for 11 yards (5.5 avg.) with a long of eight yards in a start vs. Utah on Sept. 18 ... Also threw the game-winning 2-point conversion to quarterback Lucas Johnson in the third overtime ... Played 41 snaps overall ... Made two catches for 13 yards (6.5 avg.) in 22 snaps in a start vs. Towson on Sept. 25 ... Had a 6-yard catch in 47 offensive snaps in a start against New Mexico on Oct. 9 ... Had a big game in other start at San José State on Oct. 15, making four catches for 54 yards (13.5 avg.) and two touchdowns in 56 snaps ... Caught a pair of touchdown passes in each overtime session, first from 14 yards out and then from 24 yards out ... Was named the team’s offensive player of the game ... Came up with a team-high and game-high four catches for 18 yards (4.5 avg.) in 38 starts in a start at Air Force on Oct. 23 ... Made two catches for 39 yards (19.5 avg.) in a start vs. Fresno State, owning a season-long catch of 29 yards ... Played 63 snaps overall ... Did not start at Hawai’i on Nov. 6, snapping a streak of 18 straight starts ... Also did not make a catch, snapping a streak of 12 consecutive games with at least one reception ... Played 17 snaps in the game ... Returned to start against Nevada on Nov. 13, making three catches for 26 yards (8.7 avg.) in 65 offensive snaps ... Had a huge game at UNLV on Nov. 19, making a career-high nine catches for 75 yards and a career-high three touchdowns ... The three touchdown catches for the most by an Aztec since Colin Lockett had three in the 2011 New Orleans Bowl, while the nine catches were the most at SDSU since Mikah Holder had nine at UNLV on Oct. 7, 2017 ... Caught nine passes on nine targets ... The 75 yards were a season high ... Was named the team’s offensive player of the game ... Followed that up with another nine-catch game against Boise State on Nov. 26, totaling 133 yards and a touchdown as well ... Broke 100 yards for the first time since Nov. 6, 2020 vs. San Jose State on Nov. 6, 2020 ... Became the third Aztec with a 100-yard receiving game this season (also Daniel Bellinger (113 at Arizona on Sept. 11 and Elijah Kothe vs. Fresno State on Oct. 30) ... Broke the 100-yard mark in the first half (six catches for 108 yards) ... Also tied a then career high (accomplished previous game at UNLV) with nine catches ... Was chosen as one of SDSU’s offensive players of the game ... Had another good game against Utah State in the Mountain West Championship on Dec. 4, making eight catches for 82 yards and a touchdown ... Had a monster game against No. 24/25 UTSA in the Tropical Smoothie Frisco Bowl on Dec. 21 with career highs of 11 catches and 175 yards, along with two touchdowns, en route to being named the offensive most valuable player ... Also made ESPN’s All-Bowl Team ... The 11 receptions were the most by an Aztec since DeMarco Sampson had 12 vs. Utah on Nov. 20, 2010, while the 175 yards were the most since Fred Trevillion had 189 at Fresno State on Nov. 17, 2018 ... Became the 27th Aztec with at least five, 100-yard receiving games ... Caught his sixth touchdown and seventh touchdowns over his past four games, eighth and ninth of the season and 11th and 12th of his career ... His nine touchdown catches are the most by an Aztec since Vincent Brown had 10 in 2010 … It was his fourth straight game with a TD catch ... Over those four games, he totaled 37 catches for 465 yards and seven touchdowns ... In two career bowl games, he has totaled 14 receptions for 286 yards and four touchdowns, winning offensive MVP honors both times (shared the award with Jordan Byrd at the 2019 New Mexico Bowl).

SOPHOMORE SEASON (2020)
Was named a Burlsworth Trophy nominee for a second straight year, which goes out to the most outstanding collegiate football player who began his career as a walk-on and has shown outstanding performance on the field ... Was listed as the “seventh-rated player in the Mountain West” by Pro Football Focus ... Was called “SDSU’s fourth-best offensive player” by College Football News ... Started the team’s eight games on the season at wide receiver and three times as the punt returner ... Had 24 catches for 326 yards (13.6 avg.) with a touchdown and a long catch of 51 yards ... Led the team in catches (24), receiving yards (326) and long catch (51)  ... Also returned 12 punts for 113 yards (9.4 avg.) with a long of 29 yards ... Ranked second in the Mountain West and 14th in FBS in punt return average (9.42) ... Earned the start against UNLV in the opener on Oct. 24 and made a 10-yard grab ... Also appeared to finish with a touchdown catch, but the play was overruled by video replay ... Started again at Utah State on Oct. 31, making three catches for 24 yards (8.0 avg.) with a long of 12 yards ... Hauled in six passes for a career-high 139 yards against San José State on Nov. 6, making the Pro Football Focus National Team of the Week ... Recorded his first 100-yard game of the season and third of his career (all over the last seven games) ... Became the 41st player in program history with three career 100-yard games ... Had a career-long 51-yard reception in the game ... Earned the start against Hawai’i at wide receiver on Nov. 14, but did not make a catch, snapping a streak of 16 straight games ... Returned his first five punts of the season for 60 yards (12.0 avg.) with a long of 29 yards ... Set career highs in all three punt return categories - returns (5), yards (60) and long (29), while tying a career best in average (12.0) ... Recorded five catches for 80 yards (16.0 avg.) with a long of 35 yards in a start at Nevada on Nov. 21 ... All three marks were team highs ... Also returned two punts for 15 yards (7.5 avg.) with a long of 10 yards ... Had two catches for 13 yards (6.5 avg.) in a start at Colorado on Nov. 28, while returning two punts for 18 yards (9.0 avg.) with a long of 17 yards ... Had a pair of catches for nine yards in a start vs. Colorado State on Dec. 5, including a 9-yard touchdown ... The touchdown was his first of the season and third of his career, and put SDSU on the scoreboard ... Had team highs of five receptions and 51 yards (10.2 avg.) in another start at No. 14/16 Brigham Young, while also returning a punt for 13 yards.

FRESHMAN SEASON (2019)
Won a pair of team awards, including the Byron H. Chase Memorial Trophy (offensive player of the year) and the Outstanding Freshman Award (with Cameron Thomas) ... Became the first Aztec freshman to be named an offensive or defensive outstanding player since quarterback Ryan Lindley in 2008 ... Was named a Burlsworth Trophy nominee, which goes out to the most outstanding collegiate football player who began his career as a walk-on and has shown outstanding performance on the field ... Started 10 games and played in all 13 ... Had 48 catches for 633 yards (13.2 avg.) with two touchdowns and a long of 74 yards ... Also had 12 punt returns for 78 yards (6.5 avg.) with a long of 25 yards and a 7-yard rush ... Had the fifth-most catches (48) in the country without a dropped pass (according to Pro Football Focus) ... His 48 receptions and 633 receiving yards each ranked second on the team ... Among freshmen in SDSU single-season history, Matthews ranked second in receptions (48) and third in receiving yards (633) ... Started the opener vs. Weber State in his first collegiate game, making three catches for 25 yards (8.3 avg.) with a long of 11 yards over 40 snaps ... Had five catches for 59 yards (11.8 avg.) in a second straight start at UCLA, playing 62 snaps ... Had a catch of 20 yards ... Had four of his five receptions for 41 yards in the first quarter and an 18-yard grab on a third-and-3 situation late in the fourth quarter, which led to a field goal that put the game away for SDSU ... Also started at punt returner for the first time of his career, but did not record a return ... Started again at New Mexico State, making four catches for 31 yards (8.8 avg.) with a long of 10 yards ... The four receptions tied Elijah Kothe for the most on the team ... Came off the bench for the first time against Utah State, playing 45 snaps ... Made a highlight reel diving 20-yard catch on a second-and-26 situation ... Also had his first career rush for seven yards and his first career punt return (13 yards), starting there for the second time ... Had two catches for 16 yards (8.0 avg.) with a long of eight yards in 33 snaps in a reserve role at Colorado State ... Had career highs of six catches and 73 yards (12.2 avg.) in a start against Wyoming, playing 55 snaps ... In the second half alone, caught five passes for 65 yards ... His biggest catch was a career-long 25-yard grab on a fourth-and-3 situation late in the fourth quarter ... It extended the drive and led to a 10-yard Juwan Washington touchdown run, which put the Aztecs on top for good ... Had three catches for 22 yards (7.3 avg.) in 57 offensive snaps at San José State, while also handling a punt return for zero yards ... Made two catches for 15 yards (7.5 avg.) in a start at UNLV, logging 34 snaps on the offensive side of the ball ... Also excelled as a punt returner, returning four for 48 yards (12.0 avg.) with a long of 25 yards ... Ended up setting career highs in punt returns (4), punt return yards (48), punt return average (12.0) and long punt return (25) ... Caught three passes for 32 yards (10.7 avg.) with a long of 18 yards in a start and 60 snaps vs. Nevada ... Also returned three punts for 17 yards (5.7 avg.) with a long return of nine yards ... Had a career-high eight catches for a career-best 119 yards against Fresno State in a start and 65 snaps, being named to the Pro Football Focus Mountain West Team of the Week for the first time of his career ... Became the 86th different 100-yard receiver in program history (328th occasion overall) ... Also returned two punts for zero yards ... Had four catches for 32 yards (8.0 avg.) in 53 offensive snaps off the bench at Hawai’i ... Had team highs of four receptions and 78 yards (19.5 avg.) in a start and 53 snaps against Brigham Young ... Had a career-long 33-yard catch in the game, while his 19.5 average was also a career best (min. 2 rec.) ... Was named the co-Most Valuable Offensive Player of the New Mexico Bowl vs. Central Michigan when he had three receptions for 111 yards and his first two career touchdowns ... Recorded his second 100-yard receiving game of the season (and career) ... The 74-yard touchdown catch was SDSU’s longest offensive play this year and the longest catch of his career ... Finished with 19 catches and 340 yards (85.0 ypg) over his final four games.

REDSHIRT SEASON (2018)
Was named the team’s offensive scout player of the year while using his redshirt campaign.

HIGH SCHOOL
Was a two-year letter winner at nearby Christian High School in El Cajon, Calif. ...  Helped the Patriots to a 8-3 record as a senior, including a 3-1 league mark ... Was a first-team all-league and all-county performer as a senior in 2017, when he had 57 catches for 888 yards (15.6 avg.) and 14 touchdowns (according to MaxPreps) ... Also was 2-for-2 passing for 102 yards and two touchdowns, while recording 35 tackles (25 solo), three interceptions and two fumble recoveries on defense ... Also was a shortstop on the baseball team and the point guard on the basketball squad.

PERSONAL
Jesse Thomas Eliseo Matthews was born Aug. 12, 1999, in San Diego ... Son of Tom and Jessica Matthews ... Is majoring in communication.

SINGLE-GAME BESTS
Receptions: 11 vs. No. 24/25 UTSA (12/21/21)
Receiving Yards: 175 vs. No. 24/25 UTSA (12/21/21)
Receiving Touchdowns: 3 at UNLV (11/19/21)
Long Reception: 74 vs. Central Michigan (12/21/19)
Carries: 2 at Arizona (9/11/21)
Rushing Yards: 7 vs. Utah State (9/21/19)
Long Rush: 7 vs. Utah State (9/21/19)
Punt Returns: 5 vs. Hawai’i (11/14/20)
Punt Return Yards: 60 vs. Hawai’i (11/14/20)
Long Punt Return: 29 vs. Hawai’i (11/14/20)
All-Purpose Yards: 175 vs. No. 24/25 UTSA (12/21/21)
Tackles: 1 vs. San José State (11/12/22), at Nevada (10/22/22), at No. 14/15 Utah (9/17/22).