Ryan Mathews' biggest run could be straight to the NFL

Finally healthy, Fresno State junior running back Ryan Matthews is pondering a jump to the NFL.

Following this season, Bulldogs coach Pat Hill will get advice from NFL evaluators on where his star player could be taken in the draft. If it's inside the first 30 or 40 picks, Hill said he's suggest to Matthews that he turn pro.

"We talked about it, and [Hill] is going to get evaluations on me and if I'm going to go in the top couple rounds, he's going to tell me to go because it's good money," Mathews told the Fresno Bee. "But if not, I'll just play here another year and have fun."

Matthews currently leads the nation in rushing. In seven games, he has rushed for 1,131 yards and nine touchdowns. Against Boise State he had 233 yards rushing and 145 against Cincinnati.

Those games put Matthews on the national spotlight. Here at MTD we currently have Matthews rated as the fifth-best junior running back, but he is rising. What will always be in question about Matthews is his health.

He was banged up a lot as a freshman, but played well when healthy. As a sophomore in 2008, Mathews suffered from nerve damage and played in only eight games.