Agoura's Casey Matthews Drafted by Eagles

NEW YORK, N.Y. – It’s been a whirlwind few months for the Matthews family.

First, Casey played in the BSC National Championship with Oregon and lost to Auburn; then Clay III won a Super Bowl with Green Bay; and this weekend, Casey was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fourth round of this year’s NFL draft, No. 116 overall.

He becomes the latest in an impressive list of Matthews men to play professional football, including his grandfather Clay, father Clay Jr. and Uncle Bruce.

For now, he’ll take time to create his own path and identity, something he’s been working on for years, he said.

“I’m my own player, I’m my own man,” said Matthews, who grew up in Agoura Hills and went to Oaks Christian, in a conference call. “What [my family's] done motivates me, but I’m trying to reach a level that they haven’t reached, and I know it’s going to take a lot of hard work, but it’s my goal. I’m looking forward to playing and not being known as Clay’s little brother."

Matthews said he knew the Eagles would be one of the teams he could go to after a solid visit with them prior to the draft.

At Oregon, he recorded 73 tackles, three interceptions and one forced fumble his senior year and at Oaks Christian, he was named defensive player of the year as a junior and senior for the CIF Division III state champions.

He said watching his brother win a Super Bowl added more fuel to his fire.

“I couldn’t wait to get to the NFL,” he said. “It’s been a dream of mine since I started playing football. I’m looking forward to getting going and bringing a Super Bowl to Philadelphia.”