社会学 student anchors Idaho offensive line
Steven Matlock is a College of Letters, 艺术 and Social Sciences student majoring in sociology with a criminology emphasis. Associate professor and Matlock's advisor 布莱恩狼 said that Matlock is a positive presence and a welcome addition to the growing and dynamic program in criminology.
Idaho offensive coordinator Kris Cinkovich calls him “ornery.” Defensive end Quinton Bradley opts for “nasty.” Coach Paul Petrino says “relentless.”
They all fit nicely for Vandals junior Steven Matlock, at least once he snaps the ball. 场外, 温和的中心, 首都高中毕业生, welcomes the responsibility of playing a key spot occupied the last four seasons by Mike Marboe.
“I feel like it’s my position now. I think it fits my abilities as a leader,” Matlock said. “I know I’m not the biggest guy, but I’m not going to tolerate being pushed around out there.”
马特洛克(米, 270 pounds) moves into the center spot after starting 16 games the last two seasons at guard. Though he said he’s never played the position before, he often spent time before and after practices snapping, knowing in the back of his mind he may eventually switch.
“He has such a unique personality. 他非常专注, it made a lot of sense because of that, 因为他的力量, 他的智慧, 他的领导,辛科维奇说. “Even if he isn’t that big, it works well because he can get to that second level quickly.”
Cinkovich said Matlock is the team’s second-strongest player pound for pound, 不是开玩笑说的, “Not many guys here want to scrap with him.”
Said Petrino: “He’s a little undersized, but he’s really strong. I think he makes up for it a bit with a second, third, fourth effort. 他真是个固执的人.”
Initially, Matlock was supposed to grayshirt the 2013 season and enroll in January of 2014. But a week into fall camp in Petrino and Cinkovich’s first season, injuries forced them to give Matlock the call to come to Moscow. A month later, he was starting.
“I have a lot of respect for him, the way he’s handled whatever’s come at him,辛科维奇说.
作为领导者, Matlock also is trying to alter the perception of Idaho’s line — the Vandals have given up 94 sacks the last two seasons, 全国最多的.
“We can’t be known for that anymore,” Matlock said. “改变从我们开始. 我们的进攻取决于我们自己.”
Matlock said his goal for the group is to allow fewer than two sacks per game. He will be surrounded by experience, including senior guard Dallas Sandberg. Juniors Jeff Travillion and Calvin White are the likely tackles, with junior Mason Woods and sophomore Jordan Rose battling for the other guard spot.
“I think we can go from a group that was maybe a weakness to a strength,” Petrino said.
Article by Dave Southorn, Idaho Statesman dsouthorn@idahostatesman.com | 2015年8月30日