The Washington Redskins announced April 4 that they have signed wide receiver Jerome Mathis. Terms of the contract were not disclosed.

Mathis, 5-11 and 184 pounds, is a very speedy, athletic wide receiver and an explosive kick returner.

Last season, Mathis appeared in three games and was inactive for one before being placed on injured reserve with a lower leg injury. He finished the season with 11 kickoff returns for 320 yards and a 29.1-yard average per return.

Mathis spent much of the 2006 season on the physically unable to perform list missing training camp and the first 11 games of the season due to a foot injury. He appeared in two games before being placed on injured reserve Dec. 23.

Mathis's best season came during his rookie year in 2005 when he finished as the second ranked return man in the league with 1,542 yards on 54 returns for an average of 28.6 and two touchdowns. His efforts earned him a trip to the 2006 Pro Bowl.

Mathis attended Hampton University where he broke the NCAA all-time record for kickoff return average, with a 26.6-yard average. He also holds the NCAA record for career kickoff returns for a touchdown with six.

He finished his collegiate career with 93 catches for 2,456 yards (26.4 avg.) and 21 touchdowns.

While at Hampton he also participated on the track team where he won the 200-meter dash at the 2003 and 2004 East Regionals.

His speed was also demonstrated at the 2005 NFL Scouting Combine when he ran a 4.28 40-yard dash which is one of the fastest times in times in Combine history.