04/30/2012 - A closer look at the Dolphins' picks: Round 7/227 - Rishard Matthews, WR, 6-0, 217, Nevada...He's a well-built, fluid receiver who is competitive and plays with football smarts. During his two seasons at Nevada he caught 147 passes for 2,243 yards and scored 13 touchdowns. He also has the skill set to serve as a returner. - The Sports Xchange
Matthews enrolled at Bakersfield Junior College (Calif.) and sat out the 2007 (injury) and 2008 (academics) seasons. Earned first-team All-WAC honors as a senior at Nevada with 91 catches for 1,364 yards and eight scores. Matthews has an extensive past, playing at several different high schools and struggling to stay on the football field because of academics. He is more of a one-speed athlete who fails to stand out in any one area.
Analysis
Positives: Solidly built with good overall size and bulk -- long arms and does a nice job extending to create a large catching radius. A long-striding athlete with good playing speed. Usually sure-handed with the concentration to snatch the ball out of the air. Tough and physical, effective in traffic. Has good vision and experience as a return man.
Negatives: Very average long speed and will struggle to separate at the next level. Not very explosive off the line of scrimmage and takes too long gearing down when changing directions. Unpolished route runner and does a poor job selling routes, lacking much burst in and out of his breaks. Isn't the most natural pass catcher. Has a sketchy background with some character concerns.
