'Job Not Done' Draws Devon 'Monster' Matthews Back to IU

Written by Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

Devon Matthews, who goes by the nickname ‘Monster’, could have decided to test the NFL waters after the 2021 season and nobody would have blamed him. The Hoosiers just ended a 2-10 season and he has had a very solid career at IU. However, to the delight of his coaches and the IU fans, Matthews decided to return to Bloomington for one final go-a-round for one reason.

That reason, the job was not finished.

“Job not done, that's my motivation. Our job not done here, so I feel like coming back was good for really just the whole team. Just to help the team do better this year. So, that was really our main focus ––– getting the job done, doing what we came here to do." Matthews said on Thursday after the team’s third fall practice.

Matthews has played in 40 games for the Hoosiers and has been a major part of two bowl teams. He has tallied 152 tackles (seven for a loss) and has three interceptions to his name. Matthews was banged up last year, but he used the year to work on his leadership skills.

"Having his leadership and experience back there is huge for our defense.” Indiana safeties coach Jason Jones said. “He is one of those guys that even when he was out, he stayed connected. He was in every meeting. He was still watching film on his own. When they cleared him to come back, besides being out there on the field getting reps, mentally he knew everything that we were doing. It has been really good. I am proud of him and happy to have him back.”

Matthews was one of the players who was unhappy with how 2021 ended and went to talk with Allen immediately following the 44-7 loss to Purdue.

“It says a lot about him as a young man. It also says a lot about what he thinks about the program.” Jones added. “One of the conversations that he had with me was that the reason he chose to come to Indiana was because he wanted to come here and do something different. He wanted to come here and do something different. He said "Coach, we did not finish the right way." He wanted to come back and finish this thing the right way.”

The job description is pretty simple this year. Get back to a bowl game.