BOISE, Idaho – Former Boise State running back Alexander Mattison was selected in the third round of the National Football League Draft with the 102nd overall pick by the Minnesota Vikings, Friday.
Mattison, who led the Mountain West in rushing this past season with 1,415 yards, ranked eighth nationally in the statistical category.
Boise State has had at least one player drafted in each of the last 10 years, and he is the fourth running back to be selected during the streak. He joins a list that also includes Doug Martin (2012, first round), Jay Ajayi (2015, fifth round) and Jeremy McNichols (2017, fifth round).
Mattison, who opted to forego his final season of eligibility to enter the NFL Draft, gives Boise State six-consecutive years with an early entrant, one of only nine schools in the country with such a streak. The list also includes Alabama, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, LSU, Penn State, Stanford and Washington. Defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (2014) started the streak, followed by Ajayi, linebacker Kamalei Correa (2016), McNichols and linebacker Leighton Vander Esch (2018).
Mattison led the Mountain West and was seventh in FBS with 17 rushing touchdowns this past season, and posted six 100-yard games. Included were pair of 200-yard performances - he tallied three touchdowns and 200 yards on 37 carries against Utah State as Boise State captured Mountain West Mountain Division title in the regular-season finale, and tied the Boise State record with 40 carries and put up 200 yards and one score against Fresno State in the Mountain West Championship.
As a junior Mattison ran for 1,086 yards and 12 touchdowns, and added 28 receptions for 284 yards and another score. He recorded four 100-yard games, including a career-best 242 yards on 23 carries at Colorado State. Mattison added three scores against the Rams, including a 70-yarder.
Mattison is the first Bronco to be drafted by the Vikings. Boise State has now had a player selected by 27 of the 32 NFL teams. Only Carolina, Houston, Indianapolis, Jacksonville and Philadelphia have yet to select a player from Boise State.
Mattison, who led the Mountain West in rushing this past season with 1,415 yards, ranked eighth nationally in the statistical category.
Boise State has had at least one player drafted in each of the last 10 years, and he is the fourth running back to be selected during the streak. He joins a list that also includes Doug Martin (2012, first round), Jay Ajayi (2015, fifth round) and Jeremy McNichols (2017, fifth round).
Mattison, who opted to forego his final season of eligibility to enter the NFL Draft, gives Boise State six-consecutive years with an early entrant, one of only nine schools in the country with such a streak. The list also includes Alabama, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, LSU, Penn State, Stanford and Washington. Defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (2014) started the streak, followed by Ajayi, linebacker Kamalei Correa (2016), McNichols and linebacker Leighton Vander Esch (2018).
Mattison led the Mountain West and was seventh in FBS with 17 rushing touchdowns this past season, and posted six 100-yard games. Included were pair of 200-yard performances - he tallied three touchdowns and 200 yards on 37 carries against Utah State as Boise State captured Mountain West Mountain Division title in the regular-season finale, and tied the Boise State record with 40 carries and put up 200 yards and one score against Fresno State in the Mountain West Championship.
As a junior Mattison ran for 1,086 yards and 12 touchdowns, and added 28 receptions for 284 yards and another score. He recorded four 100-yard games, including a career-best 242 yards on 23 carries at Colorado State. Mattison added three scores against the Rams, including a 70-yarder.
Mattison is the first Bronco to be drafted by the Vikings. Boise State has now had a player selected by 27 of the 32 NFL teams. Only Carolina, Houston, Indianapolis, Jacksonville and Philadelphia have yet to select a player from Boise State.
