Zach Mathis
{{short description|Canadian-American football player (born 2000)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox CFL biography
|name=Zach Mathis
|team=Edmonton Elks
|image=
|caption=
|status=Active
|import=no
|position1=Wide receiver
|birth_date={{birth date and age|2000|2|29}}
|birth_place=Tampa, Florida, U.S.
|number=81
|college=North Dakota State
|high_school=Berkeley Prep (Tampa, FL)
|height_ft=6
|height_in=7
|weight_lbs=203
|playing_years1={{CFL Year|2024}}–present
|playing_team1=Edmonton Elks
|career_highlights=
- 3× FCS national champion (2018–2019, 2021)
|CFL=zach-mathis
}}
Zach Mathis (born February 29, 2000) is a Canadian-American professional football wide receiver for the Edmonton Elks of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at North Dakota State.
Early life
Mathis played high school football at Berkeley Preparatory School in Tampa, Florida, and was a four-year letterman and two-year starter. He caught 20 passes for 351 yards and five touchdowns as a senior. He was invited to the Blue-Grey All-American Game. Mathis earned honorable mention all-county honors in both football and basketball in high school.{{cite web | url=https://gobison.com/sports/football/roster/zach-mathis/18898 | title=Zach Mathis | publisher=gobison.com | accessdate=29 August 2024}}
College career
Mathis played college football for the North Dakota State Bison from 2018 to 2023.{{cite web | url=https://www.inforum.com/sports/bison-media-zone/mens-sports/bison-receiver-zach-mathis-healthy-making-most-of-opportunities-for-big-plays | title=Bison receiver Zach Mathis healthy, making most of opportunities for big plays | publisher=inforum.com | date=September 14, 2022 | accessdate=29 August 2024 | author=Peterson, Eric}}{{cite web | url=https://www.inforum.com/sports/bison-media-zone/mens-sports/bison-6-foot-7-receiver-zach-mathis-ready-to-lead-thrive-entering-his-6th-season | title=Bison 6-foot-7 receiver Zach Mathis ready to lead, thrive entering his 6th season | publisher=inforum.com | date=August 3, 2023 | accessdate=29 August 2024 | author=Peterson, Eric}}{{cite web | url=https://www.inforum.com/sports/bison-media-zone/mens-sports/healthy-season-radio-experience-helped-bison-wr-mathis-with-eligibility-decision | title=Healthy season, radio experience helped Bison WR Mathis with eligibility decision | publisher=inforum.com | date=December 1, 2022 | accessdate=29 August 2024 | author=Kolpack, Jeff}} He played in one game in 2018, but did not record a catch, and was redshirted. He appeared in nine games in 2019 and totaled five receptions for 79 yards. Mathis played in North Dakota State's only game of the fall 2020 season, and caught one pass for 16 yards. The rest of the 2020 season was moved to spring 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, Mathis did not appear in any games in spring 2021 due to injury.{{cite web | url=https://www.kvrr.com/2022/04/06/ndsus-mathis-back-healthy-this-spring-after-multiple-injury-setbacks/ | title=NDSU’s Mathis Back Healthy This Spring After Multiple Injury Setbacks | publisher=kvrr.com | date=April 6, 2022 | accessdate=29 August 2024}} He played in 12 games, starting two, during the fall 2021 season, recording eight receptions for 112 yards.
Mathis played in all 15 games, starting 10, in 2022, totaling 35 receptions for 520 yards and three touchdowns. He led the team in receptions and receiving yards and finished second in receiving touchdowns.{{cite web | url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/team/stats/_/id/2449/season/2022 | title=North Dakota State Bison Player Stats 2022 | publisher=espn.com | accessdate=29 August 2024}} He caught seven passes for 123 yards in the national championship game loss to South Dakota State. Mathis was also named to the Missouri Valley Football Conference Honor Roll that season. He appeared in all 15 games, starting 13 games, in 2023, catching 46 catches for 665 yards and six touchdowns. He led the Bison in receptions and receiving touchdowns while finishing second in receiving yards. Mathis was also one of six team captains that season.
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 6 5/8
| weight = 220
| dash = 4.64
| ten split = 1.63
| twenty split = 2.67
| shuttle = 4.51
| cone drill = 7.14
| vertical = 36.5
| broad ft = 9
| broad in = 11
| bench =
| arm span = 33 1/4
| hand span = 9 5/8
| note = All values from Pro Day{{Cite web |title=2024 NFL Draft Scout Zach McCarron-Mathis College Football Profile |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1061470&DraftYear=2024 |access-date=September 1, 2024 |website=DraftScout.com}}
}}
After going undrafted in the 2024 NFL draft, Mathis attended rookie minicamp on a tryout basis with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.{{cite web | url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1061470&DraftYear=2024 | title=Zach Mathis | publisher=draftscout.com | accessdate=29 August 2024}}{{cite web | url=https://www.cfl.ca/2024/06/29/elks-select-wr-zach-mathis-in-supplemental-draft/ | title=Elks select WR Zach Mathis in supplemental draft | publisher=cfl.ca | date=June 29, 2024 | accessdate=29 August 2024}}
On June 29, 2024, the Edmonton Elks forfeited their first round pick in the 2025 CFL Draft to select Mathis in a supplemental draft.{{cite web | url=https://www.thespec.com/sports/football/edmonton-elks-take-receiver-mathis-in-cfl-supplemental-draft/article_5114ddde-66d1-5bbc-a900-b6a80682e7f8.html | title=Edmonton Elks take receiver Mathis in CFL supplemental draft | publisher=thespec.com | date=June 29, 2024 | accessdate=29 August 2024}}{{cite web | url=https://3downnation.com/2024/06/29/edmonton-elks-forfeit-2025-first-round-pick-to-select-rec-zach-mathis-in-supplemental-draft/ | title=Edmonton Elks forfeit 2025 first-round pick to select REC Zach Mathis in supplemental draft | publisher=3downnation.com | date=June 29, 2024 | accessdate=29 August 2024}} He officially signed with the team on July 7.{{cite web | url=https://www.footballdb.com/teams/cfl/edmonton-elks/transactions | title=Edmonton Elks Transactions | publisher=footballdb.com | accessdate=29 August 2024}}
Personal life
References
{{reflist}}
{{Edmonton Elks roster navbox}}
{{2018 North Dakota State Bison football navbox}}
{{2019 North Dakota State Bison football navbox}}
{{2021 North Dakota State Bison football navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mathis, Zach}}
Category:American football wide receivers
Category:Canadian football wide receivers
Category:North Dakota State Bison football players
Category:Edmonton Elks players