PHILADELPHIA - R.J. Mattes grew up watching his dad play in the NFL.
Now, it's the son's turn to don the shoulder pads and play in the trenches on Sundays.
Mattes is the son of Ringtown native and former North Schuylkill High School star Ron Mattes, who played eight years in the NFL (1985-92) as an offensive lineman with the Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Bears and Indianapolis Colts.
The younger Mattes is an undrafted rookie offensive lineman with the New England Patriots. The 6-foot-6, 315-pound former North Carolina State standout made his NFL preseason debut Friday, playing roughly three quarters in the Patriots' 31-22 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field.
"It's just nice to follow in his footsteps," R.J. Mattes said. "Ever since I've been a kid it's been a dream to be in the NFL. I'm just trying to make the most of the opportunity I have right now.
"Being a rookie, you have to go out there and bust your butt every play, make sure you make no mistakes and just keep grinding every day."
Mattes has drawn rave reviews in online articles and blogs by New England Patriots beat reporters for his play through the early part of training camp.
The Patriots have been hit by a rash of injuries on their offensive line, creating opportunities for younger players like Mattes to get preseason playing time and make a strong impression on Bill Belichick and his coaching staff.
Mattes hasn't disappointed. He played right tackle on the Patriots' second-team offense in Friday's game, coming into the game with 3:12 left in the first quarter.
Mattes played nearly the rest of the game, only sitting out one series in the third quarter as the Patriots amassed 248 yards rushing.
"It was a nice experience," Mattes said. "It's a dream come true to be able to play in the NFL, in a Patriots uniform. Not a lot of guys can say that. I was happy about that. I got a chance to play, and made the most of my opportunity.
"When guys get in, you have to step up and make plays. Obviously, you don't want to see anyone go down, but when you get in there, you have to make plays, step up, be the rookie and fill in for people who get hurt."
Mattes, who shared a locker at Lincoln Financial Field with Blue Mountain and Penn State grad Matt Stankiewitch, talked at length after the game about his ties to Schuylkill County.
His father was born in Shenandoah, grew up in Ringtown and graduated from North Schuylkill in 1981. His mother, Susan, grew up in Ashland and graduated from North Schuylkill in 1982. In addition to R.J., they have two daughters, Nicole, 25, and Amber, 19.
Mattes visits his grandparents in Ringtown and Ashland every year, and was in Schuylkill County last month to see the "Thunder over Ashland" fireworks.
"We usually spend a week around July 4 up there every year," Ron Mattes said. "It's pretty nice. My wife tries to get up there a little more often. With football, I only get July off, so I hit it when I get it."
Ron Mattes was an All-Atlantic Coast Conference lineman at the University of Virginia from 1981-85, helping the Cavaliers win the 1984 Peach Bowl. He was drafted in the seventh round (193rd overall) of the 1985 NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks.
The elder Mattes played six years with the Seahawks and one each with the Bears and Colts during his NFL career. He's currently in his third year as the offensive line coach at Elon College after coaching stints at James Madison University (1995-98) and the University of Virginia (2010).
Having someone who's been in his shoes, battling through training camp to make an NFL team, to get tips from is a big asset, R.J. said.
"He's been here. He's blazed the trail," R.J. said. "He let me learn from his mistakes, telling me don't do this, don't do that, watch for this. It's good having a guy that's been in the NFL, knows what he's doing, instead of coming in here blind."
Ron Mattes stepped aside from the collegiate ranks in 1999 to coach R.J. through middle school and high school in Concord, N.C. Ron and Susan currently reside in Burlington, N.C.
He talked proudly about his son, who he grades after every game like he's one of his players at Elon.
Ron Mattes didn't attend Friday's preseason game in Philadelphia, but talked with R.J. afterward and offered some tips and criticism after watching film.
"I DVR'd the game because we were in the middle of two-a-days," Ron Mattes said. "I went through it twice, graded it and it was a couple of points away from the grade he got from his coaches.
"I've been doing that his whole life. When I get a chance to watch him play, I get game film and grade it like I'm his coach. We go through the plays, and I'll tell him that's a bad step here, that's a bad set there.
"We use it as a learning experience. He looks forward to it, and calls after every game. I'm hard on him."
Both R.J. and Ron Mattes know that it's a longshot R.J. makes the Patriots' 53-man roster as an undrafted rookie. Still, Ron Mattes is proud of his son and is all too happy to help R.J. in his quest to follow in his father's footsteps.
"Every kid wants to be in the NFL, but not every kid can," Ron Mattes said. "We feel blessed that R.J. has put himself in a position to be where he's at right now. He's worked hard his whole life.
"Since he was a kid, he wanted to be a football player, like thousands of other kids. He's got God-given size, and he's worked hard with the ability God gave him."
Just like his dad.