Alabama DL Phidarian Mathis is a Commander, goes No. 47 overall
Spending five seasons at Alabama was well worth it for Phidarian Mathis. On Friday, the big defensive lineman was selected in the second round (No. 47 overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft by the recently renamed Washington Commanders. That makes him the fourth former Crimson Tide player to get taken this year.
Going to Washington also means that Mathis will be joining an Alabama-heavy defensive front. The franchise had gone back-to-back Crimson Tide defensive linemen in 2017 and 2018 with Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne. Considering the success those two have had in the league, it makes sense that they’d want to add another.
Over his career, Mathis played in 46 games for Alabama.
In those games, he had 129 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks, 5 pass deflections, 3 forced fumbles and 3 fumble recoveries. His biggest contribution came this past season, however, after playing a career-high 547 snaps. He produced 53 total tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, 9 sacks, 2 pass deflections, a forced fumble and 2 fumble recoveries.
Not only did Mathis prove to be an effective run-stopper, but he also provided a fantastic interior pass rush to complement what the Crimson Tide had on the exterior with Will Anderson, Dallas Turner and Drew Sanders. Back in early November, Alabama coach Nick Saban spoke highly of Mathis, including the lineman’s ability to lead.
“Phil’s done a really good job, he has stepped up as a leader, he sets a good example,” Saban told reporters. “He’s confident enough in himself and his maturity to challenge other players to do the same and I think that has benefitted us tremendously.”
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Coming out of high school in 2017, Mathis was a four-star prospect who was rated as the nation’s No. 106 overall player, No. 9 defensive lineman and No. 4 player from the state of Louisiana, according to the On3 Consensus rankings.
With Mathis off the board, Alabama has now seen 12 players from its 2017 recruiting class get drafted. The other 11 include the following:
- QB Tua Tagovailoa – No. 5 (Dolphins, 2020)
- OT Jedrick Wills – No. 10 (Browns, 2020)
- WR DeVonta Smith – No. 10 (Eagles, 2021)
- WR Henry Ruggs III – No. 12 (Raiders, 2020)
- WR Jerry Jeudy – No. 15 (Broncos, 2020)
- QB Mac Jones – No. 15 (Patriots, 2021)
- OT Alex Leatherwood – No. 17 (Raiders, 2021)
- RB Najee Harris – No. 24 overall (Steelers, 2021)
- DB Xavier McKinney – No. 36 (Giants, 2020)
- DL Isaiah Buggs – No. 192 (Steelers, 2019)
- LS Thomas Fletcher – No. 222 (Panthers, 2021)
That number will continue to grow over the next two days with several other Alabama players from that class expected to get taken. That list includes Brian Robinson, outside linebacker Christopher Allen, defensive lineman LaBryan Ray and safety Daniel Wright.
Other Mathis and NFL Draft Stories
Alabama OL Evan Neal lands with Giants after going No. 7 overall
Lions trade up to take Alabama WR Jameson Williams No. 12 overall
NFL Draft: ESPN projects two Alabama players go in Round 2
Nick Saban updates search to find next Phidarian Mathis
Phidarian Mathis addresses what it’s like to be a “girl dad”
Phidarian Mathis reveals what it means to be a part of DTU, the Alabama lineage
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