Countdown to 2018 IUFB Kickoff: 63 Days (Devon 'Monster' Matthews)

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Written By Nathan Comp

Countdown to IUFB Kickoff: 63 Days (Devon 'Monster' Matthews)

The Hoosier Huddle countdown to kickoff has begun. Nine weeks remain until the Hoosiers kickoff the 2018 season on the road against Florida International University. Today we will highlight number 63, Devon Matthews.

Devon Matthews (Freshman)

Height: 6’2”

Weight: 185 Pounds

Hometown: Jacksonville, FL

Position: Safety

Devon Matthews accounts for one eighth of the Hoosiers’ 2018 recruiting class originating from Florida. Matthews is a 3-star prospect out of Jean Ribault High School in Jacksonville and was a big get for the program. Once a commit for Charlie Strong and South Florida, Matthews flipped to Indiana on December 11 before making it official during the first day of the early signing period on the 20th. His other scholarship offers were highlighted by the likes of Missouri, Cincinnati, Illinois, and Temple. He is ranked the 56th best safety in the 2018 class by 247 Sports.

On Twitter, you can find Matthews by the screenname Devon “Monster” Matthews. And looking at his highlight videos, the nickname is appropriate. Matthews is a stereotypical roaming free safety that loves to play physically and lay hard hits on opponents. He should fit in perfectly in Allen’s attacking style of defense – both by breaking up passes in the backfield, and sniffing out the run game and getting to the line of scrimmage to make plays. There is no doubt Matthews is an athlete; he is another example of a player who fits Allen’s mold of a multi-sport athlete. In fact, he made headlines this past February not on the football field, but on the basketball court, after draining a full-court buzzer beater to propel his team to a 63-60 victory.

With the loss of Tony Fields and Chase Dutra at the safety position, coupled with the introduction of the new redshirt rule for college football, Matthews will have a shot at showcasing his abilities this season. Jonathan Crawford will lead the way at safety, likely along with Khalil Bryant, Byrant Fitzgerald and Juwan Burgess. But do not be surprised to see Matthews earn playing time early in his career, as Allen has shown no fear in playing whoever he feels most confident in defensively, regardless of experience.