For those who got an opportunity to read my article last week predicting where five prospects out of Temple would come off the board during the 2016 NFL Draft, you know that things did not really pan out the way I envisioned.
Fortunately, every cloud has a silver lining as they say.
The Washington Redskins did draft a former Temple player, although it was defensive tackle Matt Ioannidis and not wide receiver Robby Anderson (who went undrafted and has since signed with the New York Jets). Cornerback Tavon Young was indeed selected by a team whose logo is a bird when the Baltimore Ravens took him in the fourth round. Finally, the Indianapolis Colts did take a center in the seventh round, although not Temple’s Kyle Friend.
So I was not completely wrong.
Much like the prowess of my speculations, linebacker Tyler Matakevich’s unlikely fall to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the seventh round has as silver a lining as they come.
Pittsburgh has had an uncanny ability of selecting talent in the later rounds of the draft and developing those players into serviceable additions to the starting lineup over the years. Joey Porter, Clark Haggans, Larry Foote and Carlos Emmons were all selected in the third round or later and became starting linebackers in the NFL.
Matakevich will now attempt to follow in Emmons’ footsteps as a seventh round pick looking to make a name for himself in the pros.
All I ever needed in life was a chance! So thankful for the @steelers organization giving me that opportunity!! Can't wait to get to work!!
— Tyler Matakevich (@44_Matakevich) May 1, 2016
If I have learned one thing since joining The Fever and taking over this beat, it is that one would be hard-pressed to find a player willing to put in more work than Matakevich.
The former Owl committed to Temple – his lone offer to play for a Division I-A program – and made the most of it, finishing his collegiate career as the school’s all-time leader in tackles (493) and earned both the Chuck Bednarik Award and Bronco Nagurski Trophy following his senior campaign.
Why did so many teams pass on him?
While Matakevich was highly productive during his time in Philadelphia, he did not have the overall size and speed scouts covet when evaluating potential NFL talent. His drive, football intelligence and passion for the game, however, make up for those deficiencies.
“You watch Temple play, he makes all of the tackles,” Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin told Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “I think he won the Chuck Bednarik Award this year. They don’t hand that out to anyone, particularly a guy who comes from a smaller program like Temple.”
If you are able to catch the eye of a high-caliber coach like Tomlin, you must be doing something right.
It will not come easy for Matakevich. He will have to work hard to separate himself and make the Steelers as a special teams player, where he will be able to learn the NFL game for a few years before potentially working his way into a larger role.
Fortunately for Matakevich, hard work is something he is all about – the chance to play is all he needs.
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