Temple University Athletics
Matakevich Earns Sporting News All-America Honors
12.15.15 | Football, T. Matakevich - All-American Candidate
PHILADELPHIA – Temple linebacker Tyler Matakevich has been named second team All-American by the The Sporting News. The senior has had quite a week, winning the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Chuck Bednarik Award – both given to the nation's best defensive player. He also garnered first team All-America by Associated Press, Football Writers Association of America, USA Today and the Walter Camp Football Foundation.
Matakevich is the first-ever Temple defensive player to earn first-team All-America honors, and the first at any position to earn the nod since Paul Palmer in 1986. He also was the recipient of the Walter Camp Football Foundation Connecticut Player of the Year award. Matakevich, the American Athletic Conference's Defensive Player of the Year, is also a finalist for the Senior CLASS Award.
The Stratford, Conn., native is the only FBS players to lead his team in tackles every game of the 2015 season. He is college football's active leader with 481 career tackles, and is ninth all-time on the NCAA career list. This season, Matakevich racked up 126 total tackles, and became just the seventh college football player to have four seasons over 100 tackles. He also leads the nation in interceptions among linebackers with a career-high five and also reached career-highs in sacks (4.5) and tackles for loss (15.0).
Matakevich and the Owls will wrap up the 2015 season in the Marmot Boca Raton Bowl against Toledo on Tuesday, December 22. Kickoff is 7:00 p.m. and the game will air on ESPN. For tickets and package information, visit owlstix.com.
FIRST TEAM
Offense
QB - Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma
RB - Derrick Henry, Alabama; Christian McCaffrey, Stanford
WR - Corey Coleman, Baylor; Josh Doctson, TCU
TE - Hunter Henry, Arkansas
OL - Joshua Garnett, Stanford; Spencer Drango Baylor; Ryan Kelly, Alabama; Jack Conklin, Michigan State; Ronnie Stanley, Notre Dame
K - Roberto Aguayo, Florida State
KR - Evan Berry, Tennessee
Defense
DE - Carl Nassib, Penn State; Emmanuel Ogbah, Oklahoma State
DT - A'Shawn Robinson, Alabama; Adolphus Washington, Ohio State
LB - Jaylon Smith, Notre Dame; Reggie Ragland, Alabama; Eric Striker, Oklahoma
CB - Desmond King, Iowa; Vernon Hargreaves III, Florida
S - Jeremy Cash, Duke; Vonn Bell, Ohio State
P - Tom Hackett, Utah
PR - Cam Sutton, Tennessee
SECOND TEAM
Offense
QB - Deshaun Watson, Clemson
RB - Dalvin Cook, Florida State; Leonard Fournette, LSU
WR - Will Fuller, Notre Dame; JuJu Smith-Schuster, USC
TE - Jake Butt, Michigan
OL - Vadal Alexander, LSU; Sebastian Tretola, Arkansas; Taylor Decker, Ohio State; Jason Spriggs, Indiana; Roderick Johnson, Florida State
K - Ka'lmi Fairbairn, UCLA
KR - Morgan Burns, Kansas State
Defense
DE - Joey Bosa, Ohio State; Shaq Lawson, Clemson
DT- Jonathan Bullard, Florida; Andrew Billings, Baylor
LB - Kentrell Brothers, Missouri; Tyler Matakevich, Temple; Joe Schobert, Wisconsin
CB - Zack Sanchez, Oklahoma; Jalen Tabor, Florida
S - Jabrill Peppers, Michigan; Jalen Ramsey, Florida State
P - Drew Kasar, Texas A&M
PR - Dante Pettis, Washington
Matakevich is the first-ever Temple defensive player to earn first-team All-America honors, and the first at any position to earn the nod since Paul Palmer in 1986. He also was the recipient of the Walter Camp Football Foundation Connecticut Player of the Year award. Matakevich, the American Athletic Conference's Defensive Player of the Year, is also a finalist for the Senior CLASS Award.
The Stratford, Conn., native is the only FBS players to lead his team in tackles every game of the 2015 season. He is college football's active leader with 481 career tackles, and is ninth all-time on the NCAA career list. This season, Matakevich racked up 126 total tackles, and became just the seventh college football player to have four seasons over 100 tackles. He also leads the nation in interceptions among linebackers with a career-high five and also reached career-highs in sacks (4.5) and tackles for loss (15.0).
Matakevich and the Owls will wrap up the 2015 season in the Marmot Boca Raton Bowl against Toledo on Tuesday, December 22. Kickoff is 7:00 p.m. and the game will air on ESPN. For tickets and package information, visit owlstix.com.
FIRST TEAM
Offense
QB - Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma
RB - Derrick Henry, Alabama; Christian McCaffrey, Stanford
WR - Corey Coleman, Baylor; Josh Doctson, TCU
TE - Hunter Henry, Arkansas
OL - Joshua Garnett, Stanford; Spencer Drango Baylor; Ryan Kelly, Alabama; Jack Conklin, Michigan State; Ronnie Stanley, Notre Dame
K - Roberto Aguayo, Florida State
KR - Evan Berry, Tennessee
Defense
DE - Carl Nassib, Penn State; Emmanuel Ogbah, Oklahoma State
DT - A'Shawn Robinson, Alabama; Adolphus Washington, Ohio State
LB - Jaylon Smith, Notre Dame; Reggie Ragland, Alabama; Eric Striker, Oklahoma
CB - Desmond King, Iowa; Vernon Hargreaves III, Florida
S - Jeremy Cash, Duke; Vonn Bell, Ohio State
P - Tom Hackett, Utah
PR - Cam Sutton, Tennessee
SECOND TEAM
Offense
QB - Deshaun Watson, Clemson
RB - Dalvin Cook, Florida State; Leonard Fournette, LSU
WR - Will Fuller, Notre Dame; JuJu Smith-Schuster, USC
TE - Jake Butt, Michigan
OL - Vadal Alexander, LSU; Sebastian Tretola, Arkansas; Taylor Decker, Ohio State; Jason Spriggs, Indiana; Roderick Johnson, Florida State
K - Ka'lmi Fairbairn, UCLA
KR - Morgan Burns, Kansas State
Defense
DE - Joey Bosa, Ohio State; Shaq Lawson, Clemson
DT- Jonathan Bullard, Florida; Andrew Billings, Baylor
LB - Kentrell Brothers, Missouri; Tyler Matakevich, Temple; Joe Schobert, Wisconsin
CB - Zack Sanchez, Oklahoma; Jalen Tabor, Florida
S - Jabrill Peppers, Michigan; Jalen Ramsey, Florida State
P - Drew Kasar, Texas A&M
PR - Dante Pettis, Washington
Players Mentioned
LB
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