Matthew Slater biography
Date of birth : 1985-09-09
Date of death : -
Birthplace : Orange, California
Nationality : American
Category : Sports
Last modified : 2010-12-08
Credited as : Football player NFL, wide receiver for the Patriots, Pro Bowl/NFL Draft player
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Matthew Slater was drafted by the New England Patriots in the fifth round (153rd overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft ... Signed by the Patriots (6/14/08).
Career Highlights
2010 (9/0)
* Made one special teams tackle against the Steelers (11/14).
* Tallied two special teams tackles against the Browns (11/7).
* Was inactive against the Vikings (10/31).
* Saw time on special teams against the Ravens (10/17) and Chargers (10/24).
* Played on special teams against the Dolphins (10/4).
* Saw time at wide receiver as well as on special teams (two tackles) against the Bills (9/26).
* Had two special teams tackles in both the season opener against the Cincinnati Bengals (9/12) and in week two against the Jets (9/19).
2009 (14/0, 1/0)
* Played in 14 games and finished with 269 kickoff return yards on 11 returns, seven special teams tackles and one rushing attempt for six yards.
* Was inactive for the first two games due to an injury suffered during the preseason.
* Majority of his playing time was on special teams as a kickoff returner and on the kickoff coverage, punt and punt coverage teams.
* Made his 2009 debut vs. Atlanta (9/27).
* Had his first NFL offensive touch at Buffalo (12/20) with a 6-yard gain on an end around in the second quarter.
* Had a career-high 35-yard kickoff return in the regular-season finale at Houston (1/3).
* Played in a reserve role at wide receiver and on special teams coverage units in the postseason game vs. Baltimore (1/10). Had two kickoff returns for 46 yards and one special teams tackle.
2008 (14/0)
* Played in 14 games and was inactive for two contests, while finishing second on the team with 13 special teams tackles as a rookie in 2008.
* Made his NFL debut against Kansas City (9/7).
* Led the team in special teams tackles once (at SEA) and tied for the team lead in special teams tackles twice (vs. KC, at OAK) in 2008.
* Tied for the team lead with two special teams tackles against Kansas City (9/7).
* Made one special teams tackle and returned one kickoff for a 28-yard gain against Denver (10/20).
* Led the team with three special teams tackles, including two solo stops at Seattle (12/7).
* Tied for the team lead with two special teams tackles at Oakland (12/14).
* Saw action at wide receiver, safety and on special teams coverage and return units against Arizona (12/21).
College
* Played at UCLA for four seasons from 2004-07 after redshirting in 2003.
* In 2007, was named to the first-team All-Pacific-10 conference team as the kick returner and named to SI.com's All-America Team as a kick returner.
* Slater's three touchdowns in 2007 set new UCLA and Pac-10 records for kickoff return touchdowns in a season and a career.
* He tied for the national lead with three touchdowns on kickoff returns in 2007.
* His average of 29.0 is the highest in UCLA history among players with at least 20 kickoff returns in a season.
* He appeared in all 13 games in 2006 and excelled on kick coverage.
* As a reserve wide receiver in 2005, he saw action in two games.
High School
Lettered in football for two seasons for coach Larry Toner at Servite HS in Anaheim, CA ... All-West selection by Prep Star ... Three-star selection by rivals.com ... Rated No. 75 prospect in the West by rivals.com ... Ranked No. 56 nationally among receivers by rivals.com ... Two-time All-Serra League selection ... As a senior, he made 39 receptions for 707 yards and five touchdowns ... Standout performer in track for coach Richard Gibbs, he finished second (tied) at the CIF State meet in the 100m (10.67) and fourth in the 200m (21.39) ... His 4 x 100m relay team was CIF champion ... Selected 2003 Orange County Register Boys Track and Field Athlete of the Year as a senior ... As a junior, he made 23 catches for 333 yards and two touchdowns ... Won the CIF Division III 100 and 200 meters ... Owns Servite school records in the 100 (10.62) and 200 meters (21.39).
Personal
* Matthew Wilson Slater was born the son of Jackie and Annie Slater on September 9, 1985.
* Lettered in football for two seasons at Servite High School in Anaheim, Calif.
* As a senior, he made 39 receptions for 707 yards and five touchdowns.
* A standout performer in track, finishing second (tied) at the CIF State meet in the 100m (10.67) and fourth in the 200m (21.39).
* His father is a former Los Angeles Ram and NFL Hall of Fame offensive lineman.
* Has one brother, David.
* Enjoys participating in Children Ministries with his Church in his spare time.
* In November 2008, helped pass out Thanksgiving food baskets at Morgan Memorial Goodwill Industries in Boston.
* Participated in the 2008 Salvation Army Holiday Party at Gillette Stadium with nearly 250 children from the Boston and Providence Salvation Army centers.
* Was an honor roll student at UCLA and a political science major.
Extra
* Matthew has been active in various children's ministries programs at his hometown church and he hopes to pursue seminary study in his post-football career.
* Matthew's father, Jackie Slater, was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2001. He spent 20 seasons with the Los Angeles Rams, played in 259 games, and was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.
