Temple University Athletics
Matakevich Earns USA Today First-Team All-America Honors
12.8.15 | Football, T. Matakevich - All-American Candidate
PHILADELPHIA – Temple linebacker and Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner, Tyler Matakevich, received yet another honor on Monday. The senior was named a first-team All-American by USA Today, marking the first Temple player to earn a first-team All-America nod since Paul Palmer in 1986.
Matakevich, the American Athletic Conference's Defensive Player of the Year, is also a finalist for the Bednarik Award and Lott IMPACT Trophy, after his fourth season of 100-plus tackles. He became just the seventh FBS player to reach that milestone. Matakevich also led the nation's linebackers with five interceptions on the season, and set career highs with 15 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks.
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.
All three Heisman Trophy finalists and stars from each of the four teams in this year's College Football Playoff joined Matakevich on the USA Today All-America team. The first-team offense is headlined by Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson and running backs Derrick Henry of Alabama and Stanford's Christian McCaffrey.
Each team consists of 11 offensive players, 11 defensive players and three specialists.
FIRST TEAM
OFFENSE
QB: Deshaun Watson, Clemson
RB: Derrick Henry, Alabama; Christian McCaffrey, Stanford
WR: Corey Coleman, Baylor; Josh Doctson, TCU
TE: Hunter Henry, Arkansas
OL: Jack Conklin, Michigan State; Joshua Garnett, Stanford; Ryan KelIy, Alabama; Spencer Drango, Baylor; Joe Thuney, North Carolina State
DEFENSE
DL: Joey Bosa, Ohio State; Sheldon Day, Notre Dame; DeForest Buckner, Oregon; Shaq Lawson, Clemson
LB: Tyler Matakevich, Temple; Jaylon Smith, Notre Dame; Reggie Ragland, Alabama
CB: Jourdan Lewis, Michigan; Desmond King, Iowa
S: Jeremy Cash, Duke; S: Marcus Maye, Florida
SPECIALISTS
K: Jake Elliott, Memphis
P: Tom Hackett, Utah
RET: Morgan Burns, Kansas State
Matakevich, the American Athletic Conference's Defensive Player of the Year, is also a finalist for the Bednarik Award and Lott IMPACT Trophy, after his fourth season of 100-plus tackles. He became just the seventh FBS player to reach that milestone. Matakevich also led the nation's linebackers with five interceptions on the season, and set career highs with 15 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks.
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.
All three Heisman Trophy finalists and stars from each of the four teams in this year's College Football Playoff joined Matakevich on the USA Today All-America team. The first-team offense is headlined by Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson and running backs Derrick Henry of Alabama and Stanford's Christian McCaffrey.
Each team consists of 11 offensive players, 11 defensive players and three specialists.
FIRST TEAM
OFFENSE
QB: Deshaun Watson, Clemson
RB: Derrick Henry, Alabama; Christian McCaffrey, Stanford
WR: Corey Coleman, Baylor; Josh Doctson, TCU
TE: Hunter Henry, Arkansas
OL: Jack Conklin, Michigan State; Joshua Garnett, Stanford; Ryan KelIy, Alabama; Spencer Drango, Baylor; Joe Thuney, North Carolina State
DEFENSE
DL: Joey Bosa, Ohio State; Sheldon Day, Notre Dame; DeForest Buckner, Oregon; Shaq Lawson, Clemson
LB: Tyler Matakevich, Temple; Jaylon Smith, Notre Dame; Reggie Ragland, Alabama
CB: Jourdan Lewis, Michigan; Desmond King, Iowa
S: Jeremy Cash, Duke; S: Marcus Maye, Florida
SPECIALISTS
K: Jake Elliott, Memphis
P: Tom Hackett, Utah
RET: Morgan Burns, Kansas State
Players Mentioned
LB
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