IU center added to Rimington Trophy preseason watch list

Growing up is a hard thing to come to terms with.

Just ask senior center Will Matte what it feels like.

In 2008, Matte was a freshman center on the scout team, looking up to teammates and current NFL offensive linemen Rodger Saffold and James Brewer.

Now heading into the 2012 season, Matte is the oldest member of IU’s offense as a redshirt senior, and is ready to have his swan song campaign as a Hoosier football player.

“When I look back at it, it really flew by,” Matte said. “I probably still don’t fully realize it, but it’s just incredible that I’m at this point. I’m going to make the most of it.”

Four years ago, Matte arrived in Bloomington from Wheaton-Warrenville South (Ill.) High School. He did not play one down of football during his first year at IU.

“I still remember my first camp,” Matte said. “It was totally crazy, I had no idea what was going on. I’m definitely proud that I stuck it out, and though this experience has been tough, I’ve battled through.”

As a redshirt freshman in 2009, Matte had the opportunity to start all 12 games for the Hoosiers. His efforts didn’t go unnoticed.

Matte was named to the freshmen All-Big Ten team by Sporting News and was a freshman All-American honorable mention by CollegeFootballNews.com.

In his three playing seasons thus far, Matte has started 33 games in 34 appearances.

He has also been a captain for nine games, including seven during his junior year.
Heading into the 2012 season, he was named to the preseason watch list for the Rimington Trophy, an annual award given to the nation’s best center.

He has also battled through injury and pain to get to this point in his career. As a center, Matte’s right hand is constantly swollen with almost constant blisters.

It is just part of the job he does on a daily basis to ensure sure he gets better, Matte said.

“He’s been through a lot of battles,” IU Offensive Line Coach Greg Frey said. “But I think he’s in better physical condition than he’s probably ever played it. He’s playing hard.”

Frey said Matteis practicing in addition to the younger players on IU’s offensive line.
Frey said hard play will be important in 2012.

“Will has done a good job leading, he really has,” Frey said. “There’s only so much you can do as a leader. You can be demanding, you can be their friend or you can pick them up, and he does all those things.”

Frey said no single player’s performance will be enough for IU’s offensive line to be successful in 2012.  

Matte said he hopes he can inspire the freshmen and sophomores on IU’s offensive line to be one day at the point where he is now.

Matte said it will still take some time to realize that the 2012 season will be his last in a Hoosier uniform.

“I love the guys in the O-Line room,” Matte said. “For the most part, they’ve all bought in and done what they’ve needed to do. I want to be able to leave my mark, and hopefully they can carry on what we started.”