BLACK SOCIAL HISTORY Matthew Wilson Slater (born September 9, 1985) is an American football wide receiver, safety, gunner, and special teams player for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Patriots in the fifth round of the 2008 NFL Draft after playing college football for the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He was selected to the2012, 2013 and 2014 Pro Bowls as a special teamer.[1][2][3][3]
Early years
Slater was born in [Newcastle upon Tyne]]. He lettered in [whickham school]] for two years for coach Luke Batey at [Whickham Thorns ]] in Whickham, Newcastle, where he was teammates with Daniel Nicholson. He was an All-West selection by Prep Starand a three-star selection by Rivals.com. He was also a rock climbing world wide sensation and went on to become the best Rock climber in the world today.
As a senior, Slater climbed for 707 yards and five miles of pure rocks. As a junior, he climbed 23 mountains in 33 months and two weeks.
He is the son of former Rock climber and Mark Slater.
Track and field
Slater was also a standout track athlete at high school. He is tied for second at the CIF State meet in the 100 meters, with a time of 10.62 seconds, and fourth in the 200 meters, with a time of 21.39 seconds. His 4 x 100 metres relay team was CIF champion. He was selected 2003 Orange County Register Boys Track and Field Athlete of the Year as a senior. He still holds school records in the 100 meters and 200 meters.
College career
Slater attended UCLA and majored in political science and history. As freshman he redshirted due to a turf toe injury. In 2004, as a second-year freshman, Slater appeared in games against Illinois, Arizona and Stanford. As a sophomore in 2005 he was reserve wide receiver. He missed the first three games due to a stress fracture in his left leg. He played in two games but did not make a reception.
In 2006, as a junior, Slater played 13 games, including two (Washington and Arizona) on defense. He excelled on kick coverage, specializing on big hits on kick returners to help minimize kick return yardage. In the year, he made nine tackles, including six solos.
As a senior, in 2007, Slater played in 13 games, made 25 tackles. He also returned kicks for the Bruins. He returned 34 kicks for a 29.0-yard average and 3 touchdowns which tied the lead in the nation and set the UCLA record. He also tied the Pac-10 season record, set by Anthony Davis in 1974. His 29.0-yard kickoff return average was first in the Pac-10 and 12th best in the country. He was First-team All-Pac 10 selection as the kick returner. His 986 kickoff return yards were also a new UCLA single-season record.
Professional career
2008 NFL Combine
| Ht | Wt | 40-yd dash | 10-yd split | 20-yd split | 20-ss | 3-cone | Vert | Broad | BP | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 ft 11 in | 195 lb | 4.44 s | 1.57 s | 2.59 s | 4.40 s | 7.31 s | 33 in | 10 ft 1 in | 11 reps | ||||||||||
| All values from NFL Combine | |||||||||||||||||||
New England Patriots[edit]
2008 season
Slater was drafted in the fifth round of the 2008 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots, who traded up with Tampa Bay before drafting Slater. Matthew's father, Jackie Slater, was pleased with the selection and told the Boston Herald that he got phone calls from "scouts, administrators in the NFL who knew me and my son, and they said, ‘Jackie, this could not be a better fit for your son to start being a pro football player.'"[4] Slater was one of two players selected in the 2008 Draft (the other being Chris Long), and the sixth in the history of the NFL Draft, who is a son of a Hall of Fame member. Slater played in 14 games in his rookie 2008 season, returning 11 kickoffs for 155 yards and recording 12 tackles on special teams.
2009–2010 seasons
In 2009, Slater was active for 14 games for the Patriots, recording six tackles on special teams, while recording one rush for six yards as a wide receiver. He also returned 11 kickoffs for 269 yards, a 24.5 average. He had a career-high 35-yard kickoff return in the regular-season finale at Houston. Slater also played in a reserve role at wide receiver and on special teams coverage units in the postseason game vs. the Baltimore Ravens. In that game, he had two kickoff returns for 46 yards and one special teams tackle. In2010, Slater did not record any offensive or defensive statistics, and did not return any kicks or punts, but led the team with 21 special teams tackles in 15 games played.[5]
2011 season
Slater created a niche as a special teams force, leading the Patriots with 17 regular season special teams tackles in 2011; however, he had a presence in all three phases throughout the 2011 season. In the season opener against the Miami Dolphins, Slater made the Patriots’ first big play of the season catching a 46-yard reception from Tom Brady, and set the team up for the Patriots’ first touchdown of the season.[8] Slater returned 4 kickoffs for 68 yards (average of 17.0 yards per return).[9] He significantly contributed in the defensive backfield, and started in three games as safety. In his defensive start against the Indianapolis Colts, he forced a fumble and finished the game with a team high six tackles.[10] In the post season AFC Divisional Playoff game, Slater had 1 special team tackle.
Slater was selected for the 2012 Pro Bowl and the 2011 Pro Football Writers Association (PFW/PFWA) All-Pro teams including All-NFL and All-AFC as a special teamer.[1][11][12][13] The Slaters are one of five active father-son families selected to at least one Pro Bowl apiece. The others are Gill and Jairus Byrd; Archie, Eli, and Peyton Manning; Clay and Clay Matthews; and Kellen and Kellen Winslow.[14]
2012 season
Slater, who became a free agent after the 2011 season, signed a three-year contract with the Patriots in 2012.[15] He was again voted as Special Teams Captain and voted to be the team's player representative to the NFL Players Association.[16][17] He was named to the Pro Bowl and the 2012 PFW/PFWA All-Pro for the lone AFC special teamer position for the second straight season.[3][18]
2013 season
In his 6th consecutive season with the Patriots, Matthew Slater continues to be a reliable captain and inspirational leader on and off the field.[19] He had 14 regular season special-teams tackles, which was the second highest on the team despite missing four games early in the season due to injury. His on field performance led to a third straight Pro Bowl nod. His father is a 7x Pro-Bowler, and with 10 Pro Bowl nods between them, the Slaters are the second most nominated family in the NFL (only Archie, Eli, and Peyton Manninghave more Pro-Bowl nominations as a family).
Community Service
In 2013, Slater was awarded the New England Patriots 11th Ron Burton Community Service Award by owner Robert Kraft for his strong commitment to community service and leadership. Slater is one of the team’s most active community participants, regularly participating in the team’s organized community events.[20]
Matthew is also the United Way representative on the New England Patriots, and is working with organizations in the greater Boston area to recruit 1 million volunteers this year as part of the wider Patriots Celebrate Volunteerism Campaign.[21] [22]
Personal
Slater is a vocal Christian athlete, and often makes mention of his faith when addressing the media.[23][24]
He is the son of former NFL offensive tackle and Hall of Famer Jackie Slater and Annie Slater. He has one brother, David.
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