UCLA Football: Versatile Ex-Bruin Contributing To NFL Club In Surprising Ways

Matthew Slater making tackles now

Players from UCLA keep on finding success once they leave the school for the NFL. 

While he's been known as a wide receiver throughout his 16-year career, Matthew Slater made a difference in Week Four on a different side of the ball. 

While helping out on a punt return, Slater recorded a tackle. This was Slater's first tackle of the season. 

Slater has not been much of a factor in the Patriots offense this season. Through the first four games, he has yet to record a target. The tackle was his first recorded stat of the season.   

When he was with UCLA, Slater made a huge impact on the Bruins special teams unit. 

During the 2007 season, Slater set records as he returned three kickoffs for touchdowns. He also set the Pac-10 record at the time. 

For his career, Slater returned kickoffs for 986 yards which ranks fourth on the all-time UCLA list. 

Slater's performance on special teams was good enough to get him drafted in 2008. He was selected in the fifth round to the Patriots where he's spent his full career. 

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