Matthew Slater 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 as the starting AFC special teamer for the 2012 and 2013 Pro Bowl s . Early years . Slater was born in Baldwin Park , California . He lettered in football for two seasons for coach Larry Toner at Servite High School in Anaheim , California , where he was teammates with Ryan Kalil . He was an All - West selection by " Prep Star " and a three - star selection by Rivals . com . He was also a two - time All - Serra League selection . As a senior , Slater made 39 receptions for 707 yards and five touchdown s . As a junior , he made 23 catches for 333 yards and two touchdowns . Also performed in track finishing tied for second at the CIF State meet in the 100 meter dash ( 10 . 67 ) and fourth in the 200 meter dash ( 21 . 39 ) . His 4 x 100 m 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 ( 10 . 62 ) and 200 meters ( 21 . 39 ) . He is the son of former NFL offensive tackle and Hall of Famer Jackie Slater . 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 returner s 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 . New England Patriots . 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 . ' " 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 . In 2010 , 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 . 2011 season . In the 2011 season , Matthew was voted to be the Special Teams Captain by his teammates . 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 . Slater returned 4 kickoffs for 68 yards ( average of 17 . 0 yards per return ) . 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 . 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 . 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 . 2012 season . Slater , who became a free agent after the 2011 season , signed a three - year contract with the Patriots in 2012 . He was again voted as Special Teams Captain and voted to be the team ' s player representative to the NFL Players Association . 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 . Personal . Slater is a vocal Christian athlete , and often makes mention of his faith when addressing the media . 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 . He is the son of former NFL offensive tackle and Hall of Famer Jackie Slater and Annie Slater . He has one brother , David .