Phidarian Mathis respects the University of Georgia and the former Bulldogs he is competing against at the Senior Bowl, but the University of Alabama alumnus made one thing clear in his interview.
Mathis, a Louisiana native, told reporters that Alabama still ‘runs the SEC.’
2022 @seniorbowl presser – Former @AlabamaFTBL DL @PhidarianMathis reacts to all of the @GeorgiaFootball players in Mobile this week. #RollTide@1055wnsp @Mark_Heim @ROOTwnsp @RyanCFowler @SethWEmerson @BrooksAustinSI @DrewD977ESPN #TheDraftStartsInMobile pic.twitter.com/YOBTKe7N3S
— David Schultz (@Schultzycast) February 1, 2022
“I have a lot of respect for those guys,” Mathis said today on the Georgia alums at the Senior Bowl. “We came up short, but let me remind y’all though, we still run the SEC. Let that be known. I have a lot of respect for those guys. We’ve been around each other. I have gotten to know those guys more. I am ready to learn from some of them. I am here to compete.”
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Before an 18-33 loss in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game, Mathis and the Crimson Tide earned a 41-24 victory over the Bulldogs in the Southeastern Conference title game. Alabama failed to execute on a few plays at Indianapolis, and it allowed for Georgia to take advantage. Mathis produced 53 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, and nine sacks in 2021 for the Tide.
He earned permanent team captain honors from his peers.
Mathis garnered recognition as a second-team All-SEC and second-team All-American (American Football Coaches Association) selection. He is looked at to be a Day 2 pick as most pundits have Mathis taken in the second round of the upcoming NFL Draft.
He will compete in Saturday’s exhibition at Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile, Ala.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
