Michael Mathewes Signing Day Biography

HIGH SCHOOL - As a senior, he earned first-team All-State (Division I) honors from Max Preps (third-team from Cal-Hi Sports), in addition to also being named first-team All-CIF Southern Section All-Pac 5 Division and to the Los Angeles Times All-Area and the Orange County Register All-County teams as well as Mission ViejoGÇÖs Most Valuable Player. A first-team All-South Coast League performer, he was selected as the leagueGÇÖs Defensive Player of the Year. A two-year starter at defensive end, he had a banner senior season, living in the backfield of the opponent as evidenced by his 26 tackles for loss, including 14 quarterback sacks, among his approximate 60 tackles for the year. He also had two fumble recoveries, a forced fumble, a handful of passes broken up and an interception that he returned for touchdown. He had one of his best career games as a prep in a 28-25 win over New JerseyGÇÖs Don Bosco Prep, as he was named the Rivalry Series MVP for what one game accounts claimed GÇ£wreaking havoc all day in the backfield, with his size giving BoscoGÇÖs line problems all night.GÇ¥ As a junior, when he earned second-team All-League honors in addition to earning the Future Pride of the Diablos Award, he was in on approximately 50 tackles, with 11 sacks and two fumble recoveries. He saw limited action as a sophomore, as he played on the junior varsity team during the regular season but was called up to the varsity for the CIF playoffs. On offense, he started at offensive tackle the last few games of his junior year and the entire season as a senior, though he also played some spot tight end and fullback in blocking situations. Under coach Bob Johnson, MVHS was 11-1 his junior and senior seasons, winning the South Coast League title both years and reaching the Southern Section quarterfinals. The team was 10-3 his sophomore year, claiming the lead title and reaching the section semifinal. He will letter twice in wrestling, competing as a heavyweight as a senior (currently owns an 8-2 record, recently winning the Sea View League heavyweight title). He also competes in track (throws), with plans to earn his third letter this spring; he owns a career best of 55-8 in the shot put. He served as a team captain for all three sports he participated in at Mission Viejo.

ACADEMICS - He is interested in Business as his major at Colorado. Selected as one of the National Football FoundationGÇÖs (Orange County Chapter) Scholar-Athlete award winners, and also was a member of the PrincipalGÇÖs Honor Roll all four years, he owns a 3.75 grade point average as a prep.

PERSONAL - He was born August 18, 1995 in Mission Viejo, Calif. His hobbies include playing the guitar, spending time at the beach and playing most sports. A cousin on his motherGÇÖs side, Henrik Thomsen, was a Scandinavian champion who was just shy of qualifying for the Olympics in the sport of Greco-Roman wrestling. He is active in his community, and his high school team has volunteered annually for a local 10-kilometer that serves as a fundraiser for pediatric cancer.
(Last name is pronounced Mathews.)

Colorado University Athletics