The “family business” is becoming somewhat of an outdated fixation. With small companies forfeiting left and right, the idea of a son carrying on his father’s trade has become passé. Bucking this trend is the Matthews family, where football is passed from generation to generation. Casey, a senior linebacker at Oregon, is the latest to break out of the Matthews clan, and he plans to continue the legacy of gridiron greatness.

ODE: Your grandfather, your father, your uncle and two of your brothers were or still are football players. What is it like to come from that kind of athletic tradition?

CM: The whole tradition in the Matthews family of playing football was brought upon me at a young age. I was always around football. Before and after games, I talk to my dad or brother and they give me advice on the game. My brother always gives me a goal; a sack or a pick or something before the games. It is almost like I feel like I have to carry on the legacy. Deep down on the inside I feel like if I am a Matthews, I have to play football.

ODE: Your dad, Clay Matthews II, your brother Clay Matthews III and your other brother Kyle all played football at USC. You were not offered a scholarship there. Were you upset about that? Would you have played there instead of Oregon had you been given a chance?

CM: I look at it now; I am happy here. USC didn’t have too many scholarships to give out that year. I wasn’t super bummed, but the whole recruiting process opened my eyes to other schools; I am glad the way it turned out. At the end of my four years here, I am 3-1 against SC, but yeah, four years ago, I am almost positive I would have gone to S.C. if they offered it to me.

ODE: Clay III is now in the NFL on the Green Bay Packers and is currently leading the league in sacks. How proud of your brother are you?

CM: If you watch Clay and what he has gone through, I have never seen a work ethic like his. He walked on at USC and got a scholarship. He is so disciplined. If there is one person I want my game to be like, I want it to be like his.

ODE: You were a prep superstar for your high school team and posted monster stats in 2006 when your high school, Oaks Christian, went 15-0 and won the California State Bowl. You are playing at a high level now, and the Ducks are undefeated this year. What corollaries or differences are there between that season and this one?

CM: You need to have fun when you play football. Football is just a bunch of guys going out there having fun. But I expect to win every game. In Pop Warner I was undefeated for three years, and in high school I never lost a game. Here we are bringing the program to a high level. I have been a part of some special teams.

ODE: Your brother played with long hair all through college and still does in the NFL. It seems like you are just recently letting yours grow longer and it is becoming a bit of a trademark. What is the story behind this?

CM: It is hard to grow hair out; it is such mental discipline. It is a trademark. Clay says when he lets the hair down, it lets the beast out. I don’t know if it lets the beast out for me, but it distinguishes us Matthews boys on the football field.

ODE: You have three interceptions already this year. Where did the hands come from all of a sudden?

CM: Last year I had my hands on a lot of passes, but I didn’t pick them. But this year they have us linebacker corps on the jug machine, which fires balls at us to catch. Last year I got so excited when I would see the ball. Now I focus more and try to seize the opportunity.

ODE: When you stepped on the practice field here in Eugene for the first time, did you ever see yourself one day being a starter and possibly the team’s best defensive player?

CM: I definitely expected to be a starter; I knew it would take a lot of hard work. It was all about me about grasping the defense, the concepts and being comfortable out on the field. My dad was my coach in high school, and he taught me to simplify things and our defense here comes natural to me. I feel like that’s why I was able to contribute early as a freshman.

ODE: You are the starting middle linebacker for the team. That position is sometimes referred to as the quarterback of the defense. Do you see yourself as the leader of the defense?

CM: Every linebacker has a certain responsibility. My job is to get the front set and make sure the gaps are closed. I feel like I am one of the leaders. I’m in my final year and showing the young guys how it works, and in the offseason bringing all the young guys up to speed. This defense has a lot of senior leadership.

ODE: Any great defense plays as a unit. But within that unit there are different categories. Do you see a cultural or social divide between the line, the backers and the secondary?

CM: The DBs tend to be the loudest; they are the more outspoken ones. It is a toss-up as to who is the mellowest between the line and backers, but it’s a mix. The D-Line has extremes. Terrell Turner is loud and does a lot of talking, and Brandon Bair is one most humble guys ever. Kenny Rowe, I have only heard say five words since I have been here. He doesn’t talk much, but when he does you definitely want to hear it.

ODE: The Ducks are known for their high-octane offense. But the defense this year has made the leap to somewhat match the success of the offense. Much like the offense, the defense is seeing success because of its speed as a whole. Do you feel that difference out on the field?

CM: It feels natural out there. Obviously we have a fast defense; every team has a lot of speed and talent, but it’s all about knowing what you are doing. When you know how to do everything well, you move faster.

ODE: Linebacker is an interesting position. You have to hit and stop just like the line but be ready to cover a man or a zone like the defensive backs. What do you see as your main strength?

CM: I like pass rush. I think I have got a lot better at that. I have picked up some new moves. Whenever I am one on one with an offensive lineman, I feel like I am at my best. I feel like I have a natural knack for the zone coverage, though. That’s where my picks have come from.

ODE: The Ducks, now being number one, are garnering much more national recognition. That means visible guys like you get more coverage too. How have you dealt with it, and do you mind it?

CM: I don’t mind it at all. When people recognize you, you are doing something well. I just take it all in, I just enjoy it while I can. The media coverage has stepped up, but we just stay mellow because things change quickly in college football.

ODE: When you are seen around campus, most people identify you as Casey Matthews the football player. But there is a guy under that helmet. Do you feel like the real you is out there for people to recognize, or are you always number 55?

CM: If people get a chance to talk to me, they will get to know it isn’t all about football with me. The thing about playing in such a small town that is all about football, people see me as a Duck player. I like to have fun off the field; I actually just like to have fun in general. We joke about who is the best on the team and talk each other up like, “You are the All-American here!” or, “You are the best, show me how to do this.” But we are all actually very humble.

ODE: Is there anything you haven’t accomplished as an athlete or a student here at Oregon that you still want to?

CM: I want to score a touchdown; as a defender it doesn’t happen often. That’s my athletic individual goal. Academic-wise, I just want to get my degree. I am on track to graduate in December, but I don’t get to walk until spring and that is a special thing.

ODE: When you leave Oregon, how do you want to be perceived as a person, a player and a scholar?

CM: Just as a great person overall. On and off the field I want to be seen as a classy guy who never put himself before the team. I want to be seen as a humble, unselfish guy.