When Kevin Mathis joined the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted rookie in 1997, he was trying to make a name for himself in a secondary led by future Hall of Famer Deion Sanders.
Despite his youth and his unheralded start in the NFL, Mathis made an impression on Sanders.
"I think he was like 160 pounds, something like that, when he came in the league," Sanders, now the head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes, said this week. "And to last for a decade, you've got to be smart. Now, he ran a 4.2 (40-yard dash time) for breakfast, but he was a smart, intelligent, tough, physical player."
Mathis is apparently that way as a coach, too, and he's making quite an impact on the Buffaloes this season. A 10-year NFL veteran with three teams from 1997-2006, Mathis is in his second season as the cornerbacks coach of the 21st-ranked Buffs (6-2, 4-1 Big 12), who visit Texas Tech on Saturday (2 p.m. MT, Fox).
"I think coach Mathis is the best," defensive coordinator Robert Livingston said. "He gets the most out of those guys."
CU has been significantly better on defense this season for a number of reasons. The play of the secondary is a big part of it.
The Buffs have arguably the best cornerback in the country in junior Travis Hunter, who doubles as a star receiver and is one of the leading candidates for the Heisman Trophy.
Hunter was a part of the defense last year, too, but CU struggled to find a good complement to him. This year, they have a plethora of options. Sophomore DJ McKinney and senior Preston Hodge have both had all-conference caliber seasons. Redshirt freshman Colton Hood has been impressive when given a chance to play, as well.
"(McKinney) has the potential to be a number one draft pick, first round draft pick," Sanders said. "Colton Hood is another person who has that potential, as well. Preston Hodge has done a wonderful job, as well, in the secondary. And we have others that just hadn't gotten an opportunity yet.
"Those guys are long and lanky like I like them. They're at least 5-11, 6-foot; long arms, verticals, unbelievable. All of them are basketball players in high school. They could hoop. I mean, they got it. So I love that about the corners. That's the way we go out and recruit and try to pick those certain type of young men."
The other thing they all have is Mathis, who began coaching with Sanders at Prime Prep Academy more than a decade ago and has been with him ever since, including at Jackson State from 2020-22 before they came to Boulder.
"He's really opened up the more mental part of (the game), I feel like: formations, tendencies receivers do, different techniques, style," McKinney said of Mathis. "I feel like it just makes it way easier with coach Mathis telling me how to just read my opponent."
Livingston, who has been the leader of the resurgent defense, has gone out of his way to praise Mathis' efforts.
"Kevin Mathis does a great job talking about the pass concepts and I just stay out of the way," said Livingston, who coaches safeties.
The Buffs have also had success on defense in the red zone, and Livingston credits Mathis, calling him "our red zone master."
It's not a surprise to Sanders, who has known Mathis for nearly 30 years.
"Well, I happen to have known him since we played for the Cowboys together," Sanders said. "He's coached at every level, from youth, 7-on-7, high school, Jackson, everywhere with me. So he's my guy.
"His attention to detail is second to none, having played the game and understanding what young men are capable of doing, and holding them accountable on and off the field, and not fluctuating from that one bit. It don't matter who, if it's Travis, it's DJ; it don't matter who it is. ... He holds those young men truly accountable and he's smart."
Behind Mathis and a talented crew of corners, the Buffs have confidence in their secondary every week.
"I feel like we're always trying to one-up each other," McKinney said. "It's always like a little competition. So I feel like we just pushing the bar higher and higher for our secondary limit. Like, it really ain't no limits to us. Honestly, I feel like we're the best secondary in the nation."