Why Undrafted?: Hercules Mata’afa, DE/OLB, Washington State
By Charlie Campbell, @draftcampbell
Four years ago, we started a series of articles on why certain prospects went undrafted. In that series, I reach out to sources with NFL teams to find out why their organizations passed on drafting a given player, and/or, what were the reasons for other teams to pass on that prospect. We got a lot of positive reader feedback about the series, so we decided to expand in the genre to investigate why some prospects slid in the draft. Three years ago, we started the Why the Slide? series, and this year it is back. Feel free to email me requests for Why the Slide? and Why Undrafted? at [email protected]. I can’t promise to get to all of them, but I will do my best and definitely will respond to the email.
Washington State has become a consistent winner under head coach Mike Leach, racking up 26 wins over the past three seasons. While the Cougars’ offense gets a lot of attention, the defense has improved a lot over the past few years, and Hercules Mata’afa was the tone setter for them. Playing out of position at defensive tackle, Mata’afa used his speed to cause a lot of disruption at the point of attack. In 2016, Mata’afa had 47 tackles with 13.5 tackles for a loss and five sacks. As a junior, he totaled 43 tackles with 21.5 tackles for a loss, 9.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. Mata’afa decided to skip his senior year to enter the 2018 NFL Draft off those numbers. However, that looks like a big mistake as Mata’afa went undrafted.
Sources say the biggest reason why Mata’afa was not selected was concern around his character. Teams had reservations about his off-the-field behavior, including lots of drinking and fighting. On top of teams being worried about him having issues in the NFL, Mata’afa was a complete projection to the pro game, almost certainly going to a new position. There was no way the 6-foot-2, 254-pounder could remain at defensive tackle, and he is undersized for defensive end as well. He might play end, but many teams were thinking of Mata’afa as an outside linebacker. Switching positions and doing something he never did in college made him a complete projection, and there is no evidence that he could make the switch in the NFL. The position change and character issues are why Mata’afa went undrafted.
After going undrafted, Mata’afa signed with the Minnesota Vikings. That is not a bad landing spot for him, as head coach Mike Zimmer will give a fair shot to late-round picks and undrafted free agents. However, Mata’afa is in a tough spot because the Vikings have a lot of talent at defensive end and outside linebacker. Minnesota also has depth with some other young players who the team has drafted and signed. Along with showing some potential as a designated pass-rusher, Mata’afa is going to have be a superstar on special teams to make the final 53-man roster. Starting out on the practice squad is probably the most likely way for Mata’afa to stick with an NFL team as a rookie, while also staying out of trouble and working hard at his new position. Mata’afa has his work cut out for him to make it in the NFL.
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