Temple University Athletics
Temple LB Tyler Matakevich Drafted by Pittsburgh Steelers
4.29.16 | Football
PHILADELPHIA – The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Temple linebacker Tyler Matakevich (Stratford, Conn.) in the 7th round of the 2016 National Football League Draft on Saturday afternoon.
Matakevich was the 246th selection in the 2016 NFL Draft and the 26th pick of the 7th round.
Matakevich is perhaps the most decorated student-athlete in Temple history having won the Chuck Bednarik Award and Bronko Nagurski Trophy as the nation's top defensive player in 2015. He was also a consensus first-team All-American – the first Temple defensive player to ever earn that distinction. As a senior, he helped lead the Owls to a school record 10 wins and a Top 25 ranking for the first time in 36 years when he compiled 138 tackles, 4.5 sacks, and five interceptions. In 2015, Matakevich was the only player in the country to lead his team in tackles in every game. He finished his career with a school record 493 stops and became just the seventh player in college football history to post 100+tackles in all four seasons.
"Tyler is a special player," said Temple head coach Matt Rhule. "He will play in the NFL for many years and will make the Steelers very happy. He gets credit for being a play-maker and being very instinctual but what people don't see is that he spends a lot of time studying film. He's a football junkie and he will fit right in in Pittsburgh."
Matakevich is the 66th Temple football player to be drafted into the NFL and the third today - earlier DB Tavon Young was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens and DL Matt Ioannidis by the Washington Redskins. Three players in one draft ties a school record set in 1946 and matched in 1975, 1980, 1987, and 2012. However, its the first time that all three played on the same side of the ball. They were the first Temple players drafted since 2012 when Bernard Pierce (Baltimore), Evan Rodriguez (Chicago) and Tahir Whitehead (Detroit) were selected.
Matakevich joins Cody Booth (Washington), Ioannidis (Washington), Jaiquan Jarrett (New York Jets), Kamal Johnson (Washington), Terrance Knighton (New England), Brandon McManus (Denver), Bernard Pierce (Jacksonville), Rod Streater (Kansas City), Martin Wallace (Chicago), Tahir Whitehead (Detroit), Muhammad Wilkerson (New York Jets), and Young (Baltimore) as former Owls currently active in the NFL.
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Bio | Headshot | Action Shot
Matakevich was the 246th selection in the 2016 NFL Draft and the 26th pick of the 7th round.
Matakevich is perhaps the most decorated student-athlete in Temple history having won the Chuck Bednarik Award and Bronko Nagurski Trophy as the nation's top defensive player in 2015. He was also a consensus first-team All-American – the first Temple defensive player to ever earn that distinction. As a senior, he helped lead the Owls to a school record 10 wins and a Top 25 ranking for the first time in 36 years when he compiled 138 tackles, 4.5 sacks, and five interceptions. In 2015, Matakevich was the only player in the country to lead his team in tackles in every game. He finished his career with a school record 493 stops and became just the seventh player in college football history to post 100+tackles in all four seasons.
"Tyler is a special player," said Temple head coach Matt Rhule. "He will play in the NFL for many years and will make the Steelers very happy. He gets credit for being a play-maker and being very instinctual but what people don't see is that he spends a lot of time studying film. He's a football junkie and he will fit right in in Pittsburgh."
Matakevich is the 66th Temple football player to be drafted into the NFL and the third today - earlier DB Tavon Young was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens and DL Matt Ioannidis by the Washington Redskins. Three players in one draft ties a school record set in 1946 and matched in 1975, 1980, 1987, and 2012. However, its the first time that all three played on the same side of the ball. They were the first Temple players drafted since 2012 when Bernard Pierce (Baltimore), Evan Rodriguez (Chicago) and Tahir Whitehead (Detroit) were selected.
Matakevich joins Cody Booth (Washington), Ioannidis (Washington), Jaiquan Jarrett (New York Jets), Kamal Johnson (Washington), Terrance Knighton (New England), Brandon McManus (Denver), Bernard Pierce (Jacksonville), Rod Streater (Kansas City), Martin Wallace (Chicago), Tahir Whitehead (Detroit), Muhammad Wilkerson (New York Jets), and Young (Baltimore) as former Owls currently active in the NFL.
Downloads
Bio | Headshot | Action Shot
Players Mentioned
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