2015 Florida State NFL Draft Josue Matias Player Profile

Teaming with fellow draft hopefuls Cameron Erving and Tre' Jackson, Josue Matias was a staple on the O-Line that finished 2014 second in the ACC in total yards. Matias entered the FSU fold as a 4-star OT in the Class of 2011 and left Tallahassee as one of the top guards in the country.

He was invited to the 2015 Reese's Senior Bowl and garnered an invitation to the NFL Combine in Indianapolis. However, Matias' athletic deficiencies were on full display during the multiple drills.

The Broad Jump separated Matias from fellow Florida State OG Tre' Jackson who posted a 25.0 inch vertical compared to a vertical of only 17.5 inches in Matias best attempt. Erving overshadowed Matias in the Broad Jump with a 9'4" reach while at 6'5", Matias could only muster a 7' flat reach.

A silver lining for Matias as a prospect is that Combine results don't necessarily reflect what you bring to the field as a guard compared to a WR or RB. He offers plenty of enticing traits that should carry over to the next level.

Pros

Matias was a rock in the trenches for the Seminoles throughout his college career. With 43 consecutive starts spanning from freshman to senior year, he served as a dependable piece in the spread and pro formations blocking for E.J. Manuel and Jameis Winston. A 6'5, 309-pound left guard, Matias establishes a sound technique after the snap. He uses his high football IQ to nullify his lacking athleticism:

"Offensive Guard Josue Matias doesn't wow anyone with his athleticism, but he clearly knows how to play his position," said Chris Nee of 247sports.com after covering FSU's Pro Day.

There's not much finesse surrounding Matias, as the behemoth uses his gargantuan frame to hold off pass rushers and create holes in the run game. As a defender, once he engages and locks on, you're a non-factor in the play due to the inability to separate and get to the QB.

The versatility Matias offers as a former OT is an enticing trait as teams could shuffle him around the O-Line and not lose production. His point-of-attack technique is useful on the outside if an organization feels Matias is more valuable protecting the QB.

Cons

Matias' physical limitations are evident on film and the Combine validated his underwhelming athleticism compared to other OG prospects. Matias is heavily reliant on upper body moves against pass rushers and has a difficult time adjusting to counter moves against his initial push.

Just finished up my work on Josue Matias, #FSU. Not overly impressed, concerned about his lacking power and skinny lower half.

— Bryan Perez (@FirstRoundGrade) April 7, 2015

Matias, throughout the Combine, lacked natural burst and looked stiff performing drills. While the Combine doesn't provide an entire representation of how an athlete will perform at the next level, his stock descended as a result. As a prospect once regarded as a second round talent, it's a crapshoot to determine when Matias will be drafted April 30.

The question remains if the behemoth can develop the ideal package, using both technique and frame, as an OG and utilize his imposing build to his advantage.

Conclusion

After a stellar career at FSU, Matias auditioned for NFL teams including the Panthers, Buccaneers and Patriots in the offseason. The Dolphins also reportedly worked out Matias along with three other FSU O-Linemen.

All four teams could use guard help. Along with Jackson and Erving, the Bucs might pair Matias with Winston as a potential security blanket during their rookie seasons at Tampa Bay.

Matias' situation resembles Cyril Richardson last year. Richardson, a 6-5, 340-pound OG out of Baylor, failed to impress at the 2014 Combine and slipped to the fifth round as a former OT. He now is a key contributor on an emerging Buffalo Bills O-Line. Wherever Matias lands in the draft, he'll bring a "safe" label to a potential suitor and can impact a team right away.