Temple University Athletics
Football's Matakevich Named Rotary Lombardi Award Semifinalist
11.4.15 | Football, T. Matakevich - All-American Candidate
PHILADELPHIA - Tyler Matakevich, senior linebacker of the #22 CFP/23 AP/23 USA Today-Amway Temple Owls, advanced to the semifinalist stage of the Rotary Lombardi Award today. This is the second semifinalist slot for the only FBS players to lead his team in tackles every game of the 2015 season, as he also made the cut for the Bednarik Award. Matakevich was also on the watch list last season and joined this year by senior center Kyle Friend and redshirt junior defensive lineman Praise Martin-Oguike. This year, he has 78 tackles, eight for loss, four sacks, and leads the American Athletic Conference with five interceptions. He is also 22 tackles away from becoming the first Owl and seventh player in FBS history to record 100 tackles or more in all four seasons of collegiate play.
The Rotary Club of Houston gives out this award every season to the best lineman or linebacker in the nation. The award is named after legendary coach Vince Lombardi, who played on Fordham's famous "Seven Blocks of Granite" line in the 1940s. The award also raises money for cancer patients. Voting will determine four finalists from the field of 12 semifinalists and will be announced later this month.
Matakevich and the 7-1 Owls will travel to Dallas for a Friday night showdown with the SMU Mustangs. Kickoff for the conference clash is 8:00 p.m. ET and the game will be on ESPN2.
Â
The Rotary Club of Houston gives out this award every season to the best lineman or linebacker in the nation. The award is named after legendary coach Vince Lombardi, who played on Fordham's famous "Seven Blocks of Granite" line in the 1940s. The award also raises money for cancer patients. Voting will determine four finalists from the field of 12 semifinalists and will be announced later this month.
Matakevich and the 7-1 Owls will travel to Dallas for a Friday night showdown with the SMU Mustangs. Kickoff for the conference clash is 8:00 p.m. ET and the game will be on ESPN2.
Â
Players Mentioned
Ep. 18: Men's Basketball Student-Athlete Olin Chamberlain Jr.
Tuesday, November 04
Colin Chase, 11/3/25
Monday, November 03
Javier Morton, 11/3/25
Monday, November 03
K.C. Keeler, 11/3/25
Monday, November 03
