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Matthew Wells exploded onto the 2012 scene when he took an interception 22 yards for a score against the Jackson State Tigers in the season opener for the Mississippi State Bulldogs. At 6' 2", 215-pounds, the junior linebacker can play as a linebacker, but he also has the skillset of a larger safety.
With Cam Lawrence gone, Wells will feel some pressure to help replace the production of the 2012 leading tackler. In that 2012 season, Wells began the year as a starter, but fell into more of a backup role after the emergence of Benardrick McKinney, eventually finishing the season with four starts. In 2013, his position in the starting line up should be much more secure.
In all in 2012, he tallied 34 tackles with his largest output coming against Texas A&M when he tackled the Aggie ballcarrier 10 times.