Only diehard college football fans knew the name Tyler Matakevich before the season started. Now, everyone knows the name of the Temple linebacker as he was named earned the Bronko Nagurski Award as the nation’s top defensive player.
For that, the Charlotte Touchdown Club should be applauded because, too often, these awards are routinely handed out to Power 5 Conference players when a Group of 5 guy is often more deserving. Matakevich broke that stereotype by not only setting records, but by having his two best games against high-profile foes in Notre Dame and Penn State.