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2022 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Matthew Mattingly, WR, Gardner-Webb University

Gardner-Webb University added a stud wide receiver in Matthew Mattingly. Mattingly recently sat down with Draft Diamonds owner Damond Talbot.
  • Name: Matthew Mattingly
  • Position: Wide Receiver/Slot
  • College: Gardner Webb
  • Height: 6’2
  • Weight: 200
  • Twitter: kingmattingly_
  • Instagram: kingmattingly

What makes you a top prospect at your position  in the 2022 NFL Draft

I have the size, speed and dog in me that will separate me from others in my draft class this season. I’ve been training at Elite U in Scottsdale, Arizona for the last year because of Covid-19, and it has taken my body and game to a whole new level. Were built different over there. 

At what age were you first interested in the sport of football?

One of my first baby pictures is me holding a football so you could say since I came out my mommas body I was born for it. I wasn’t aloud to play tackle until I got to high school so I played basketball and ran track until my mom said okay, haha. 

What is one thing that NFL teams should know about you?

I’ve been through a lot of adversity. From Junior College in California to thinking I was going to FAU, to ending up at Morehead State and finally now finishing at Gardner Webb. I had a goal growing up to play division one football and play in the NFL and nothing has stopped me or will stop me from succeeding in reaching my ultimate goal. 

If you could donate to one cause in the world, what would it be?

If I was to donate to a cause it would probably be to help the homeless. There’s a good amount who chose to live that way but then there’s still a huge amount with no real options who really could use help getting back on their feet.

What is the best advice you have ever received?

“What is meant for you will be for you”! Once I stopped stressing about things I had no control over, God has just been blessing me ever since. 

Who was your childhood hero?

My uncle Andre Miller was my childhood hero. Seeing him play in the NBA for over a decade showed me how much work and grind it takes to reach the point of being a professional athlete and it has driven me my whole life. 

Who is the most underrated teammate in your locker room at your school?

I have two, Tyler Noble and DeAndre Clayton. Tyler is a dog and a shutdown corner that just showed this past spring how much of a playmaker he is. Dre is my boy, threw me my first college touchdown. The last season we played together he always came to work no matter the circumstances and I know ima see both of them at the top soon. 

What is your biggest pet peeve?

I hate people who always complain but never do anything to fix their situation. Everyone has a hard or difficult story, do something to create the life you want to live, stop blaming everyone else for not being where you want to be. 

Overcoming adversity is what defines character, what was the hardest moment in your life to overcome?

I’d have to say getting over the death of my granddad. He never got to see me play college ball because of his health and thats all me and him would talk about. My grandma is always telling me he’s looking down proud of me, pushes me everyday to be great. 

Tell me something about your school and why it is so special to you?

Gardner Webb and Coach Robinson have given me an opportunity to showcase my talents on a big stage and the opportunity to one day provide for my family. I owe them everything and thats exactly what they’ll get from me this season. Can’t wait to get out there. 

What is your favorite snack food?

I’ve been trying to cut down on snacking and all the bad food I like but one thing I can’t get away from is ice cream, cookies and cream to be specific. Any other flavor im not hearing it.

What is the best part of football?

The day to day grind with my teammates. Everyone is working to achieve one goal and thats to win a national championship and those early mornings and late nights with your brothers are what makes it that much sweeter. 

If you could sell yourself in one sentence what would you say?

If you want a guy who will be a film rat and gym rat and wants to win championships I’m your guy.

If you could compare your play to one player in the NFL who would it be?

Chris Godwin 

If you could have dinner with three people dead or alive, who would it be and why?

Deion Sanders so I could pick his brain, Drake because he’s my favorite artist, and Kobe because he was the definition of a dog and I wanna know everything he sacrificed and what it took for him to be great. I’m tryna be legendary. 

Damond Talbot

NFL Draft Diamonds was created to assist the underdogs playing the sport. We call them diamonds in the rough. My name is Damond Talbot, I have worked extremely hard to help hundreds of small school players over the past several years, and will continue my mission. We have several contributors on this site, and if they contribute their name and contact will be in the piece above. You can email me at nfldraftdiamonds@gmail.com

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