South Carolina Gamecocks defensive end Cliff Matthews out of Cheraw High has been selected in the 7th round of the NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons. Matthews is a former WPDE All-Zone selection who joins another area defensive end, John Abraham from Lamar.

Matthews says his first order of business is to graduate from the University of South Carolina. He told WPDE NewsChannel 15 that because of the NFL lockout, he will have plenty of time to get his affairs in order before reporting to Falcons camp. Matthews said, "Right now, I feel like a million bucks. I feel like I can fly."

Matthews was projected to go higher in the draft but just made it near the tail end of the 7th round. The 6'4"  257 pounder was the 230th player chosen in the 2011 NFL Draft. He was one of only two Gamecocks taken in this year's draft joining Chris Culliver who was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in round three.

*Click on the arrow to the right of the headline to hear Mark Haggard's conversation with Cliff Matthews moments after he was drafted by the Falcons.