Countdown to 2020 IUFB Kickoff: 27 Days (Devon Matthews)

Written by: TJ Inman (@TJHoosierHuddle)

Indiana University’s training camp is open and, with the recent release of the tweaked Big Ten schedule, the IU season opener is less than one month away. Today is #27 in the 2020 Hoosier Huddle Countdown and our profile is a returning contributor with one of the best nicknames you will ever come across: Devon “Monster” Matthews.

Name – Devon Matthews

Position – Defensive Back

Hometown – Jacksonville, FL (Ribault High School)

Height – 6’2”

Weight – 202 pounds

A junior football player in Jacksonville fired off the end as the ball was snapped. He took off past the offensive lineman trying to block him and churned toward the quarterback. Despite being only eight years old, Devon Matthews hit the quarterback with all his might and knocked the opposing player’s helmet off of his head. Devon Matthews was now “Monster”. Matthews did not stay a defensive lineman but he did continue to excel on the gridiron. He starred at Ribault High School in Jacksonville, making 60 tackles with six forced fumbles as a senior safety and he lettered as a two-year football and two-year basketball player. Matthews joined several other Sunshine State natives and made the trek to Bloomington to play for Tom Allen.

He began his career in 2018 and played in ten games, making 20 tackles with one interception and one fumble recovery. His sophomore campaign in 2019 was a progression as he appeared in all 13 games and started in six. Devon Matthews posted 37 tackles with two pass breakups (both against Tennessee in the Gator Bowl). Matthews is a very solid player that the coaches trust. He’s in a loaded position group and will fight for playing time with Juwan Burgess, Bryant Fitzgerald, Noah Pierre, Jordan Jusevitch, Josh Sanguinetti and Raheem Layne. Jamar Johnson may also see time as a safety (although he is primarily playing Husky). I would expect Matthews to continue to appear in every contest and be an important part of the IU defense.