2024 Football Roster
Jersey Number 24
Tony Mathis Jr.
- Position:
- RB
- Height:
- 5-11
- Weight:
- 205
- Class:
- Senior
- Hometown:
- Orlando, Fla.
- High School:
- Cedartown HS
- Prev School:
- West Virginia
Bio
As a Junior (2023)
Prior to Houston
Personal
- Appeared in 10 games (287 snaps)
- Made two starts at running back
- Starts came vs. UTSA (Sept. 2) and Cincinnati (Nov. 11)
- 41 rushes for 170 yards
- 11 receptions for 79 yards and a touchdown
- Season high 60 rushing yards at Rice (Sept. 9)
- Added three receptions for 22 yards at Rice
- 24-yard TD reception at Baylor (Nov. 4) put UH ahead with 5:38 to play in fourth quarter
- Six rushes for 20 yards in season finale at UCF (Nov. 25)
- Also played on special teams in nine games
- 53 snaps on kick return; 20 snaps on punt coverage
Prior to Houston
- Spent last four seasons at West Virginia (2019-22)
- Played in 31 games including 11 starts
- Three 100-yard rushing games in his career
- 2022 Academic All-Big 12 Conference Second Team
- Started 10 games at running back in 2022
- Missed TCU and Iowa State games with elbow injury
- Two multi-touchdown games in 2022
- No. 7 in the Big 12 in rushing yards per game (56.2)
- No. 11 in Big 12 in rushing yards (562)
- No. 10 in the league in rushing yards per carry (4.16)
- 53 yards on 23 carries vs. the Sooners
- Named Big 12 Conference Co-Offensive Player of the Week vs. Baylor
- Career day vs. Baylor: 163 rushing yards on 22 carries and two scores
- Scored a touchdown at Texas
- Carried ball nine times for 38 yards at Virginia Tech
- 104 yards on 17 carries and two touchdowns vs. Towson
- Led WVU in rushing against Kansas, with 59 yards on 16 carries
- Finished with 71 yards on 16 carries at Pitt, with a long of 23
- Played in 11 games during 2021
- 312 yards on 72 carries
- Averaged 4.3 yards per carry with a long run of 45 yards
- First career start in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl vs. Minnesota
- Rushed for 56 yards and a touchdown vs. Minnesota
- Led team with five catches for 24 against Golden Gophers
- WVU Offensive Player of the Week: Kansas
- Broke out for a career-high 118 yards on 22 carries at Kansas
- Recorded first catch of season against Jayhawks
- Carried ball 12 times for 48 yards against TCU
- Season debut against LIU, rushing for 20 yards on seven carries
- Played in six games during 2020
- Used primarily on special teams
- Saw action on 51 plays, 24 on offense and 27 on special teams
- 18 carries for 55 yards and a touchdown vs. Eastern Kentucky
- Redshirted during 2019
- Saw action in four games
- Used on a season-high 19 plays against Texas Tech
- Four carries for 14 yards and three catches for 16 yards and a score vs. Texas Tech
- Played for coach Doyle Kelley at Cedartown High School
- 2018 Class 5-AAAA Offensive Player of the Year
- Earned team’s inaugural Nick Chubb Award
- Led Bulldogs to 2018 GHSA playoffs
- 1,042 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns on 169 carries in 2018
- Team captain
- Selected to play in 2017 Rising Senior Game
- Helped Cedartown to a 10-win season as junior
- Ran for 1,035 yards and added 407 receiving and 402 return yards in 2017
- Earned 2017 All-Region honors
- 2017 Rome News-Tribune All-Area Second Team
- 27 total touchdowns as a junior
- Three-star prospect by 247Sports, rivals and ESPN.com
- Also ran track at Cedartown
- Ranked as the No. 53 running back nationally by rivals
Personal
- Earned Bachelor of Science in Sports Management from West Virginia
- Hobbies: working out, and playing PS5
- Was born the same day, one year after his brother was born and passed away
- Hidden talent: can do continuous backflips
- Chose UH because it is the best fit for him and his family
- Fears getting taken advantage of
- One word to describe him: shifty
- One food he could eat the rest of his life: wings
- Motivation for working hard: his family and loved ones
- Best advice: no matter what you do, go as hard as you can
- Sports hero: Nick Chubb because he went to his high school, played the same position and now is his best friend
- Most memorable athletic feat: scoring two touchdowns against Baylor (2022) on a career-high 22 carries
- Interesting fact: he watches Disney around Christmas time