Fresno State junior RB Ryan Mathews, the nation's leading rusher, has hired an agent, cementing his eligibility for the 2010 NFL draft.

Mathews wasn't even a clear-cut No. 1 back entering the fall, but he posted a breakout season and was recognized as an honorable mention on PFW's recently released All-America team. The Bulldogs' season concluded with their double-overtime loss to Wyoming in the Humanitarian Bowl on Dec. 19, as Mathews finished the year with 276 carries for 1,808 yards (a single-season school record) and 19 touchdowns. His 150.67 yards per game average is tops in the country.

Mathews' ascent from West Coast obscurity to early entry was reminiscent of Indianapolis Colts rookie RB Donald Brown, who parlayed a superproductive junior season at UCONN into first-round dollars. Mathews isn't as physically gifted as Brown, but he could be one of the first five backs taken, given the thinness of the senior class.