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Matt Wells signs with the Atlanta Falcons

By Josh Barnhill

Oct 11, 2014; Starkville, MS, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs linebacker Matthew Wells (22) celebrates after recovering a fumble during the game against the Auburn Tigers at Davis Wade Stadium. Mississippi State Bulldogs defeated the Auburn Tigers 38-23. Mandatory Credit: Spruce Derden-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 11, 2014; Starkville, MS, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs linebacker Matthew Wells (22) celebrates after recovering a fumble during the game against the Auburn Tigers at Davis Wade Stadium. Mississippi State Bulldogs defeated the Auburn Tigers 38-23. Mandatory Credit: Spruce Derden-USA TODAY Sports /
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Former Bulldog linebacker Matt Wells signed on with the Atlanta Falcons today.

Wells last played at MSU as a senior in 2014. He was drafted in the 6th round of the 2015 NFL Draft by the Patriots, and spent that season on their practice squad as well as the Bears and Rams.

Matt was known as the “cheetah”, and was one of my favorite players. Actually, I think he is my favorite player of the Mullen era. And now he’s playing for my favorite pro team. Hopefully he’ll make the team, although it’ll be a long shot considering he wasn’t on a NFL roster to start training camp. But he’s incredibly athletic so I wouldn’t count him out.

This makes 23 former Dawgs in NFL camps right now.

Related Story: MSU players in 2016 NFL training camps

I will now take this time to re-live two classic Matt Wells plays as he tracked down some Razorbacks in 2014:

It was late in the 3rd quarter with the scored tied at 10. MSU had just kicked a field goal to tie the game and Arkansas was trying to answer. It’s 3rd & 6 on this first play, and Alex Collins easily picks it up as he burst through the line for a 42 yard gain. It could’ve easily been a touchdown, however, if not for Matt Wells.

Wells 1
Wells 1 /

Above you see Wells’ circled in red, and Collins’ running path in yellow.

Here’s another angle as the play develops. Look how far away Wells is from where Collins is going.

Wells 2
Wells 2 /

Cheetah huntin’ him down…

Wells 3
Wells 3 /

Look at him close that gap…

Wells 4
Wells 4 /

Not only does Wells make a game-saving tackle but he punches the ball out with he is bringing Collins down. Unfortunately, the ball went out of bounds so there was no fumble recovery.

Wells 5
Wells 5 /

On to the another play, which just so happens to be the next play in the Arkansas drive.

It’s a play-action pass. Will Redmond (yellow circle) blitzes leaving Keon Thatcher unguarded as he leaves the backfield….but Matt Wells is spying on Thatcher.

Wells 6
Wells 6 /

In this next shot you can see Brandon Allen looking off to his preferred target, TE Hunter Henry, but Redmond’s pressure isn’t allowing him much time. Meanwhile, Wells is hustling over to cover Thatcher.

Wells 7
Wells 7 /

Redmond’s pressure is coming so Allen checks down to Thatcher, but once he does Wells has already made it to that side of the field and poised to bring Thatcher down for a loss of one yard on the play.

Wells 8
Wells 8 /

Matt Wells doesn’t miss too many tackles no matter how elusive the runner. The drive ended in a missed FG.

Wells 9
Wells 9 /

Just a great example of how the Cheetah can move around on the field and cover so much ground so quickly to make plays for the Bulldogs.

Wells 10
Wells 10 /
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