A hard-nosed tackler with a knack for powering his way into the backfield to consistently pressure the pocket, Mattison might be better served continuing to add bulk to his frame for a possible shift to defensive tackle. While he lacks the foot speed and pursuit quickness to chase down ballcarriers on the outside, his strong anchor and bull-rush moves are effective.

The son of Greg Mattison, the co-defensive coordinator and defensive line coach at the University of Florida, Bryan was an Associated Press first-team All-State selection as a senior at Penn High School. He was named one of top 50 players in the state of Indiana by the Indiana Football Coaches Association and voted the best prep defensive lineman in Indiana by the Indianapolis Star.

Mattison participated in the All-American Bowl for high school players and was selected the 2002 Indiana Mr. Football -- Defensive Line, in addition to earning 2002 Region II MVP and Bloomington Herald-Times Big 33 Team accolades. He was also a member of the South Bend Tribune All-Area and Dream Team.

As a senior, Mattison collected 70 tackles as a senior, including 41 solo tackles and 23 assists. He also had 16 tackles for loss and seven sacks, helping his team post a 12-1 record and win the Class 5-A sectional championship. He registered recorded 49 solo tackles and assisted on 36 more as a junior. He also lettered in rugby, earning first-team All-State recognition after he led his team to a 2002 Indiana Championship.

Mattison enrolled at Iowa in 2003, earning the Team Leader Award for his performance on the scout team. He was chosen to the team's leadership group as a redshirt freshman in 2004, spending his next four years serving on that council. He backed up Matt Roth at left defensive end that season, playing in 12 games, earning freshman All-Big Ten Conference honors from The Sporting News, despite making just five tackles (four solo) with a stop for a loss and a pass deflection.

With Roth having graduated, Mattison stepped into the lineup at right end in 2005, going on to start his next 37 games at that position. He received the Hawkeye Hustle Award, posting 46 tackles (30 solo), four sacks, 9.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage and five quarterback pressures. He also broke up one pass and recovered a fumble.

In 2006, Mattison delivered 59 tackles (30 solo) and 6 ½ sacks. He registered 10 ½ stops for losses, pressured opposing quarterbacks three times and caused four fumbles. He also broke up six passes, as the team captain received All-Big Ten Conference honorable mention.

Mattison ranked second in the league with four forced fumbles and sixth with nine sacks in 2007. He was named All-Big Ten Conference second-team and was a recipient of the Hayden Fry Award. He finished sixth on the squad with 61 tackles (27 solo), as he made 11 ½ stops for losses with three pressures. He recovered a fumble, blocked a kick and had four pass deflections.

Mattison started 37 of 49 games he played in at Iowa, recording 171 tackles (91 solo) with 25 ½ sacks for minus-130 yards and 32 ½ stops for losses of 166 yards. He added 11 quarterback pressures with eight forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries, returning one 14 yards. He deflected 12 passes and also blocked one kick.

"There's not much I can say about Bryan," head coach Kirk Ferentz states. "He just goes so hard all of the time. It doesn't matter if it's practice or a game. He just goes and goes. He's not real flashy, but a guy that just digs and digs and digs. He really reminds me of an Aaron Kampman type."

Positives: Started to add bulk to his frame, as he has a barrel chest, long, thick arms, wide waist and hips, and adequate lower-body thickness … Plays with a high motor and while not field fast, he has a good concept for taking angles and using his hands effectively to grab, drag down and push aside blockers when trying to penetrate through inside gaps … Still needs to improve his lower-body strength (can be walked off the line by a strong surge), but with his wide hips and thick frame, he might be a better fit inside at tackle, once he improves his overall power base … High-energy athlete who has a the functional short-area step off the snap to consistently slip by blockers on stunts … Has functional balance, body control and change-of-direction agility to work down the line … Shows good arm power as he tries to outmuscle blockers in one-on-one situations … Is efficient knifing through traffic, feeling pressure to react while shedding blocks to get into position to clog the inside run lanes … Has the hand punch to jolt and the natural strength to anchor vs. double teams (can be stood up when he leaves his chest exposed, struggling to reset his hands to defeat counter moves) … Lacks quick-twitch moves, but somehow manages to gain advantage, using technique and savvy to defeat a lethargic blocker … When he plays at a low pad level, he can generate enough force to impact the lead blocker and push the outside running game back in … Keeps his feet when changing direction to slide down the line … Has good vision to see the play developing, and is good breaking down the action while searching out the ball … Uses his hands with impressive force to defeat combo blocks and extends his arms properly to keep blockers off his feet … More comfortable playing in the box than on long pursuit, as he doesn't have the foot speed to give long chase, but his angles allow him to take the shortest path to the quarterback … Displays enough foot speed to get into the gaps, and is a solid wrap-up tackler who does a decent job in attempts to flush the quarterback out of the pocket … Could shift inside to tackle at the pro level to take advantage of his balance and punishing hand jolt, but his lack of quickness may not be best served coming off the edge at end, especially in a 4-3 defensive alignment … Reads the pass scheme well and will get his hands up to block the quarterback's vision.

Negatives: Has size limitations vs. the bulky blockers, but has increased his bulk, adding more than 20 pounds in the last year … Gets to the quarterback effectively on stunts, but struggles when having to run long distances to chase down ballcarriers (feet tend to give out) … Some teams feel that he can play inside at tackle, but he will need to add bulk to his frame in order to compete there at the next level (also needs time to develop a feel for playing in tight quarters, as he struggled with his anchor while playing there at the Senior Bowl) … Used mostly in a read scheme, rather than unleashing him to attack the ball, but does have a good concept for taking angles, leading to decent success in his pocket pressure technique … Can close from the backside, but does not have ability to pursue over long distances … Has good arm strength, but needs to extend his arms more when trying to shed (will push and lean later in games rather than counter move vs. reach blocks) … Gets most of his sacks on effort and a high motor rather than with an explosive closing burst.

Compares To … JARED DeVRIES-Detroit … His coaches compare him to Aaron Kampman (Green Bay), but you just don't see the initial burst or great hand placement Kampman has developed. Mattison might eventually be a better fit inside, but to do that, he will need to add bulk and muscle tone to his frame. He is not the best athlete you can find to fill defensive line needs, but he is a hard worker with good field intelligence, traits that made Kampman an interesting late-round project.

2005: Underwent left foot ligament surgery in April.

Campus: 5.03 in the 40-yard dash … 372-pound bench press … 450-pound squat … 379-pound power clean … 32-inch arm length … 9 1/8-inch hands … Right-handed … 17/30 Wonderlic score.

Combine: 5.19 in the 40-yard dash … Bench pressed 225 pounds 26 times.

Attended Penn (Mishawaka, Ind.) High School, playing football for head coach Chris Geesman … Associated Press first-team All-State selection as a senior … Named one of top 50 players in the state of Indiana by the Indiana Football Coaches Association and voted the best prep defensive lineman in Indiana by the Indianapolis Star … Participated in the All-American Bowl for high school players and was selected the 2002 Indiana Mr. Football -- Defensive Line, in addition to earning 2002 Region II MVP and Bloomington Herald-Times Big 33 Team accolades … Member of the South Bend Tribune All-Area and Dream Team … As a senior, Mattison collected 70 tackles as a senior, including 41 solo tackles and 23 assists … Also had 16 tackles for loss and seven sacks, helping his team post a 12-1 record and win the Class 5-A sectional championship … Registered recorded 49 solo tackles and assisted on 36 more as a junior … Lettered in rugby, earning first-team All-State recognition after he led his team to a 2002 Indiana Championship.

Health and Sports Studies major … Son of Ann and Greg Mattison … Father is co-defensive coordinator and defensive line coach at the University of Florida … Born 5/15/84 … Resides in Mishawaka, Indiana.