Tyler Matakevich

[superjohn]

This kid is a freaking badperson. Temple didn't win that game but I think this dude proved he's big time. I watch college football for players like this, he might not fit all the perimeters but that kid can play on Sunday's without a doubt.

 

[kris1]

This kid is a freaking badperson. Temple didn't win that game but I think this dude proved he's big time. I watch college football for players like this, he might not fit all the perimeters but that kid can play on Sunday's without a doubt.

He's also a great kid off the field. I've spoken to him a few times....a very humble, driven young man. It's hard not to root for him, except for one weekend.

 

[coachcap]

He's also a great kid off the field. I've spoken to him a few times....a very humble, driven young man. It's hard not to root for him, except for one weekend.

Giants need linebackers. Hope their management was watching.

 

[HuskiesFan1014]

He proves Gingers do have souls.

Impressive kid.

 

[UCHuskies08]

Not to dredge up old stuff, but I remember that poster who loved CT football who kept going on and on about this kid when he was in high school. What was the reason we didn't go after him again? Qualifying? Pasqualoni being a genius (is that the right time frame?)?

 

[kris1]

Not to dredge up old stuff, but I remember that poster who loved CT football who kept going on and on about this kid when he was in high school. What was the reason we didn't go after him again? Qualifying? Pasqualoni being a genius (is that the right time frame?)?

That poster had a connection to Montrell Dobbs and got to know Matakevich through Dobbs. Dobbs and Matakevich both went on to play at Milford Academy.

I think a few things came into play in Matakevich's recruitment or lack there of. I think qualifying was one of them. But, after a strong junior year at St Joe's, Matakevich broke his leg and missed the first five or six games of his senior season. That may have swayed D1 schools from offering. Matakevich returned mid-season and helped lead St Joe's to a state championship win over a Dobb's led Ansonia team. Matakevich was not the fleetest of foot in high school, so the broken leg didn't help in that respect. D1 schools likely saw that as a red flag. But, the kid has great instincts and you can't measure the passion that he plays with. Temple was his only offer coming out of Milford Academy. So, there were a number of schools, including UConn, who missed the boat on this kid. He used the lack of respect as motivation and has, without question, become a high NFL draft prospect and one of the top LBs in the country. He's a tackling machine and I believe he leads the country in INTs by a LB this season.