Casey Matthews Casey Christopher Matthews ( born January 16 , 1989 ) is an American football linebacker for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League ( NFL ) . He was drafted by the Eagles in the fourth round of the 2011 NFL Draft . He played college football at Oregon . High school career . Matthews attended Oaks Christian School in Westlake Village , California , where he played for the Oaks Christian Lions high school football team . During his junior year he recorded 132 tackle s and four quarterback sack s . As a senior he recorded 158 tackles , ten sacks , and two interception s . The Oak Christian Lions posted a 15 - 0 record as the California Interscholastic Federation ( CIF ) Division III state champions and finished as the sixth - ranked team in the " USA Today " national rankings . That season he was named a " Long Beach Press - Telegram " " Best in the West " honorable mention player . As both a junior and senior , Matthews was named an all - Tri Valley League player , defensive player of the year , and all - county player . SuperPrep ranked him among the top - ten linebackers in the state of California and Scout . com ranked him in the top - 25 in the nation . Matthews was rated a three - star prospect by Scout . com and Rivals . com . He received scholarship offers from Oregon , Arizona State , California , Clemson , Colorado , Georgia Tech , Tennessee , San Diego State , Utah and Ole Miss . College career . Matthews attended the University of Oregon where he studied economics . As a true freshman in 2007 , Matthews saw action in the first 11 games including one start against Arizona . He recorded 18 tackles including 11 solo . After suffering a shoulder injury late in the season , he did not play in the game against Oregon State or in the 2007 Sun Bowl . In 2008 he played in all 13 games and recorded 67 tackles , including 13 tackles for loss and two sacks . Matthews compiled a career - high of nine tackles three times , against California , Stanford , and Oklahoma State . He finished as the team ' s sixth - leading tackler and third in terms of tackles for loss , with 13 . 0 for 44 yards . " College Football News " included him among their " 120 Players To Know " and wrote that he is " fundamentally sound , he diagnoses plays well and has a knack for filling the proper lane , a couple of keys to being a successful inside linebacker . " Matthews participated in the 2011 BCS National Championship Game , where Oregon lost to Auburn , 22 – 19 . Matthews recorded a forced fumble against Heisman Trophy winner , Cam Newton , which led to a game - tying score late in the fourth quarter . Matthews finished his college career at the University of Oregon with 50 games played , 245 tackles , nine sacks and four interceptions . Professional career . Pre - draft . Matthews was projected to be drafted in the fourth round of the 2011 NFL Draft . Philadelphia Eagles . Matthews was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fourth round ( 116th overall ) of the 2011 NFL Draft . He was signed to a four - year contract on July 27 , 2011 . He opened the 2011 NFL season as the Eagles ' starting middle linebacker . After two games he was swapped to starting weak - side linebacker and after just one game more he was benched . He became the Eagles starting nickel - linebacker before the Eagles Week 14 game at Miami . He recorded his first career sack in that same game . Personal . Matthews was born in Northridge , California to parents Clay and Leslie Matthews . His father Clay Matthews , Jr . played football as an All - American at USC and had a 19 - year professional football career in the National Football League . His grandfather Clay Matthews , Sr . and uncle Bruce Matthews both played in the NFL , as well as his brother Clay Matthews III . His brother Kyle was also a walk - on at USC . He also has cousins involved in football : Kevin Matthews was a center for Texas A & M , Jake Matthews is an offensive tackle for Texas A & M and Mike Matthews is a center for Texas A & M . On June 27 , 2011 , Matthews proposed to his girlfriend , Alyssa Grillo , in Hawaii . On July 14 , 2012 , they were married in Los Angeles , California .