Phil Mathis on breakout senior season: 'I knew what time it was'

Former Alabama defensive lineman Phidarian Mathis did something that few college football players can. Despite being a fifth-year senior, he went from a relatively unknown player outside of Tuscaloosa to a second-round pick in less than a calendar year.

Sure, Crimson Tide fans already knew of Mathis prior to 2021. The 6-foot-4, 312-pound defender had played a total of 915 snaps over the last three seasons. Plus, he was a fun personality that made him likable by coaches, teammates and fans alike. But 2021 was about business.

Soon after being selected No. 47 overall by the Washington Commanders just over a week ago, Mathis gave an interview. And in that interview, he shared what went into his breakout senior season. Apparently, the Monroe (La.) native understood time was running out, and he took advantage of what little was left.

“It was just motivation, man,” Mathis said. “For me, I knew what time it was, I knew it was time for me to step up. I finally had my chance to be a starter, I found out I had my chance not to sit behind so many guys. There were so many guys that came through that I had to sit behind, I had to wait my turn. So it was finally my turn and I think I stepped up when it was time to step up and when they needed it the most.”

In his 15 games as a redshirt senior, Mathis produced 53 tackles, 12.0 tackles for loss, 9.0 sacks, 6 QB hurries and 2 pass deflections. For comparison, he only had 5.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks over the first 40 games of his career. That’s the definition of a breakout campaign.

Between 2019 and 2020, Mathis had proven to be an effective run-stopper with his 35.2% snap share. But given almost 55% of the snaps this past season, he took his play to a whole new level — and that includes his ability to get after opposing quarterbacks.

His 9 sacks finished second on the team behind Will Anderson (17.5). It was also the most sacks for a defensive lineman since Isaiah Buggs in 2018. In fact, there are only three true defensive linemen during the Nick Saban era to produce 9 or more sacks in a single season.

Buggs had 9.5 sacks in 2018. Jonathan Allen did it in back-to-back seasons in 2015 and 2016 when he had 12.0 and 10.5 sacks, respectively. Of course, the third is none other than Mathis. Sure, some athletic limitations still exist for the now 24-year-old, but he’s an ascending interior defender who continues to get better.

That’s something the Commanders are more than willing to gamble on in the second round.

And speaking of Allen, he’ll now be a teammate to Mathis in Washington. Both he and another former Alabama defensive lineman, Daron Payne, were back-to-back first-round picks for the Commanders in 2017 and 2018. Having those two familiar faces in the locker room excites Mathis.

“Those are my big bros,” Mathis said. “I just talked to Jonathan Allen at the A-Day game and Payne, we talk all the time. So man, it’s a blessing to be back with Payne and also getting a chance to play with Jonathan Allen, because he left when I was coming into Alabama. So that’s another blessing for me and my family. I can’t wait to get around those guys and just learn from them also just come in and help them out.”

If he continues on his current path, don’t be shocked to see a breakout season come for Mathis on the NFL level.