Matthew Slater was drafted by the New England Patriots in the fifth round (153rd overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft ... Signed by the Patriots (6/14/08).
 

GP/GS (Playoffs): 20/0 (0/0)

2009 (6/0/0/2): Buffalo (9/14): Inactive. at N.Y. Jets (9/20): Inactive. Atlanta (9/27): Saw his first action of the season, playing in reserve on special teams kickoff and punt coverage units in the Patriots' 26-10 victory over the Falcons. Baltimore (10/4): Played in reserve on special teams kickoff and punt coverage units in the Patriots' 27-21 victory over the Ravens ... Made one solo special teams tackle. at Denver (10/11): Saw action in reserve on special teams return and coverage units ... Tallied one special teams tackle. Tennessee (10/18): Played in reserve on special teams kickoff and punt return and coverage units in the Patriots' 59-0 shutout victory over the Titans ... Made one special teams tackle. at Tampa Bay (10/25): Saw action in reserve on special teams coverage and return units in the Patriots' 35-7 win over the Buccaneers at Wembley Stadium ... Tallied two special teams tackles. Miami (11/8): Played in reserve on special teams coverage and return units in the Patriots' 27-17 win over the Dolphins.

2008 (14/0): Finished second on the team with 13 special teams tackles as a rookie in 2008 ... Was a part of the special teams coverage and return units and saw limited action at wide receiver and safety ... Made his NFL debut against Kansas City (9/7) ... Led the team in special teams tackles once (at SEA) and tied for the team lead in special teams tackles twice (vs. KC, at OAK) in 2008 ... Played in 14 games and was inactive against St. Louis (10/26) and at Indianapolis (11/2) ... Tied for the team lead with two special teams tackles against Kansas City (9/7) ... Returned one kickoff for 18 yards at San Francisco (10/5) ... Made one special teams tackle and returned one kickoff for a 28-yard gain against Denver (10/20) ... Returned two kickoffs for 24 yards at Miami (11/23) ... Made one special teams tackle ... Led the team with three special teams tackles, including two solo stops at Seattle (12/7) ... Tied for the team lead with two special teams tackles at Oakland (12/14) ... Saw action at wide receiver, safety and on special teams coverage and return units against Arizona (12/21) ... Delivered a vicious hit on Steve Breaston after just a 10-yard gain on a second-quarter kickoff return.
 

Played at UCLA for four seasons from 2004-07 after redshirting in 2003 ... In 2007, was named to the first-team All-Pacific-10 conference team as the kick returner and named to SI.com's All-America Team as a kick returner ... Slater's three touchdowns in 2007 set new UCLA records for kickoff return touchdowns in a season and a career ... Also tied the Pac-10 season record ... He tied for the national lead with three touchdowns on kickoff returns in 2007 ... His average of 29.0 is the highest in UCLA history among players with at least 20 kickoff returns in a season ... He appeared in all 13 games in 2006 and excelled on kick coverage, specializing on big hits on kick returners to help minimize kick return yardage ... A reserve wide receiver in 2005, he saw action in two games ... Saw limited action in 2004.
 

Lettered in football for two seasons for coach Larry Toner at Servite HS in Anaheim, CA ... All-West selection by Prep Star ... Three-star selection by rivals.com ... Rated No. 75 prospect in the West by rivals.com ... Ranked No. 56 nationally among receivers by rivals.com ... Two-time All-Serra League selection ... As a senior, he made 39 receptions for 707 yards and five touchdowns ... Standout performer in track for coach Richard Gibbs, he finished second (tied) at the CIF State meet in the 100m (10.67) and fourth in the 200m (21.39) ... His 4 x 100m relay team was CIF champion ... Selected 2003 Orange County Register Boys Track and Field Athlete of the Year as a senior ... As a junior, he made 23 catches for 333 yards and two touchdowns ... Won the CIF Division III 100 and 200 meters ... Owns Servite school records in the 100 (10.62) and 200 meters (21.39).

Matthew Wilson Slater was born the son of Jackie and Annie Slater on September 9, 1985 ... Lettered in football for two seasons at Servite High School (Anaheim, Calif.) ... As a senior, he made 39 receptions for 707 yards and five touchdowns ... Standout performer in track, finishing second (tied) at the CIF State meet in the 100m (10.67) and fourth in the 200m (21.39) ... His father is a former Los Angeles Ram and NFL Hall of Fame offensive lineman ... Has one brother, David ... Enjoys participating in Children Ministries with his Church in his spare time ... In November 2008, helped pass out Thanksgiving food baskets at Morgan Memorial Goodwill Industries in Boston ... Participated in the 2008 Salvation Army Holiday Party at Gillette Stadium with nearly 250 children from the Boston and Providence Salvation Army centers ... Was an honor roll student at UCLA and a political science major.
 

• Matthew has been active in various children's ministries programs at his hometown church and he hopes to pursue seminary study in his post-football career.
• Matthew's father, Jackie Slater, was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2001. He spent 20 seasons with the Los Angeles Rams, played in 259 games, and was elected to the hall of fame in his first year of eligibility.