2014 Football Roster
Roster
Matthew Wells
- Position:
- LB
- Height:
- 6-2
- Weight:
- 220
- Class:
- Senior
- Hometown:
- Monticello, MS
- High School/Previous School:
- Lawrence County HS
CAREER STATISTICS
CAREER: Speedy linebacker who was a regular starter in his final two seasons … Played in 52 games with 33 starts … Recorded 165 total tackles, including 22 tackles for loss and six sacks during career … Responsible for three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries … A December 2014 MSU graduate.
2014 SENIOR SEASON: Started all 13 games at outside linebacker … Notched 45 total tackles and ranked second on the squad in tackles for loss with 8.5, including four sacks … Tallied six quarterback hurries … Tallied five tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, half a sack and two pass breakups in the Sept. 13 win at South Alabama … Registered five tackles, a sack and a quarterback hurry in the Oct. 11 win against No. 2 Auburn … Credited with four tackles, one tackle for loss and a forced fumble in the road win at Kentucky … Recorded a season-high nine tackles in the home win against Arkansas to go along with 1.0 tackles for loss, two pass breakups and a pair of quarterback hurries … Totaled five tackles, a tackle for loss, two quarterback hurries and a pass breakup at No. 3 Alabama Nov. 15 … Had a career-high 1.5 sacks in the Senior Day win against Vanderbilt, tallying three tackles.
2013 JUNIOR SEASON: Starting linebacker who ranked fifth on the squad in tackles with 50 ... Started all 13 contests ... Tied for the team lead in fumble recoveries with two while racking up 6.0 tackles for loss and one sack ... Made initial stop of the year against Oklahoma State (8/31) on Josh Stewart by tossing him for a two-yard loss on the final play of the first quarter ... Recovered first career fumble at Auburn (9/14), grabbing a Tre Mason fumble in the third quarter ... Registered first sack of the season against Troy (9/21), stopping Deon Anthony for a three-yard loss in the first quarter ... Forced a fumble on the play, his first of the campaign and second of career ... Tallied two tackles and one for a loss against LSU (10/5) ... Tallied six tackles at Texas A&M (11/9), including three on the Aggies’ opening drive of the contest ... Notched seven tackles against the Alabama, including four third-quarter hits ... Recorded seven tackles against Ole Miss (11/28), making four hits during the Rebels’ first drive of the second half ... Forced a fumble in the Liberty Bowl win over Rice.
2012 SOPHOMORE SEASON: Posted 34 tackles in 13 games … Earned a start at outside linebacker in four of the first five games of the season … Filled up the defensive stat sheet with one sack, 2.5 tackles for loss, an interception, two pass breakups a forced fumble and three quarterback hurries … Recorded a career-high 10 tackles against Texas A&M … Posted four tackles each of the first two weeks of the season.
2011 REDSHIRT FRESHMAN SEASON: All-SEC Freshman nominee who played in all 13 games, including three starts … Totaled 36 tackles, 5.0 tackles for loss, one pass breakup and one quarterback hurry … Registered five tackles and 1.0 tackles for loss in his first start in the season debut at Memphis … Credited for a tackle for loss in the SEC opener at Auburn … Notched a season-high six tackles and 2.0 tackles for loss in the win vs. Louisiana Tech at home … Made five tackles in the homecoming victory against UT Martin … Totaled three tackles in the Music City Bowl victory against Wake Forest, including one behind the line of scrimmage.
2010 TRUE FRESHMAN SEASON: Sat out freshman year as a redshirt.
HIGH SCHOOL: Listed as the No. 4 Most Wanted Prospect in the state of Mississippi by the Clarion-Ledger ... Selected to play in the Mississippi-Alabama All-Star Game ... Listed as the No. 6 prospect in the state regardless of position by Scout.com ... A four-star prospect and the No. 17 running back in the nation according to Scout.com ... The No. 11 prospect in the state on the Mississippi Press Fantastic 15 ... Preseason member of the Clarion-Ledger Dandy Dozen ... Named First-Team All-State in Class 4A by the Mississippi Association of Coaches ... Despite missing four games during senior season due to injury, finished with 1,050 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns ... Also credited with 36 tackles and four interceptions ... Rushed for 1,352 yards as a junior on 113 carries and scored 21 touchdowns ... Also starred on the Lawrence County High School basketball team ... Committed to Mississippi State over Ole Miss in January of 2010.
PERSONAL: Born Matthew Sean Wells on Nov. 26, 1990 … Son of Perrin Wells and LaTriece Smith … Graduated from MSU in human sciences in December 2014.
WELLS’ CAREER HIGHS
Total Tackles: 10, vs. Texas A&M (11-3-12)
Assisted Tackles: 9, vs. Texas A&M (11-3-12)
Solo Tackles: 6, vs. Alabama (11-16-13)
Tackles For Loss: 2.0, vs. Louisiana Tech (9-24-11)
Sacks: 1.5, vs. Vanderbilt (11-22-14)
Pass Breakups: 1, (5x) last vs. Bowling Green (10-12-13)
Interceptions: 1, vs. Jackson State (9-1-12)
Forced Fumble: 1, (2x) last vs. Troy (9-21-13)
Fumble Recovery: 1, (2x) last vs. Rice (12-31-13)
