After accepting an invitation to the Reese’s Senior Bowl last month, Alabama defensive lineman Phidarian Mathis made his departure from the Crimson Tide official Wednesday night when he announced he will be declaring for this year’s NFL Draft over social media.
Mathis, a redshirt senior, could have elected to return to Alabama for one more year by taking advantage of the blanket eligibility waiver granted to players due to COVID-19. Instead, he is taking his talents to the NFL where he has been projected as a likely Day 2 selection in this year’s draft.
Mathis appeared in 15 games this season, making 12 starts while playing at defensive tackle and defensive end. The 6-foot-4, 312-pound defender recorded 53 stops including 12 for a loss and nine sacks. He also tallied six quarterback hurries, two pass deflections and a forced fumble.
In addition to his contributions on the field, Mathis was named one of four permanent team captains by his fellow players.
“It means a lot,” Mathis said of the honor last month. “Just coming, when I was coming in as a freshman, I got to see how the program was ran and at the end of the season, you could just see all those great guys become captains. Just for me to be mentioned as one, it’s something that I always wanted to do since I got here as a freshman, and I think it paid off and I’m just appreciative of my teammates of looking at me like that.
“Like I told them, I’d do anything for those guys and I’m always going to be around to motivate them. I’m always going to be one call away. I just appreciated them looking at me as a team captain and I always will be one for them.”
Mathis is the first Alabama player to declare for the draft this year. Players have until Monday to make their draft decisions. This year’s NFL Draft will take place in Las Vegas from April 28-30.
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