Michigan State linebacker Wayne Matthews III looking to set himself apart with with attention to detail

East Lansing, Mich. – After making a splash as a quick study at linebacker during spring football, Michigan State junior Wayne Matthews III is looking more and more like a transfer portal gem with is play to this point in training camp.

A volume tackler at Old Dominion last season, Matthews III has been a welcome addition to the Michigan State linebacker room. At 6-foot-2, 232, Matthews combines physicality and athleticism into a unique skillset. As such, he is emerging as a perfect fit at inside linebacker in Joe Rossi’s defense.

As the season approaches, Matthews III is firmly in the mix for a starting job at linebacker along with senior Cal Haladay , sophomore Jordan Hall , and senior Jordan Turner .

“You look at that linebacker group with that depth, I always joke with those guys that they are my favorite position on the team,” said tight ends coach Brian Wozniak . “They’ve got depth. They’ve got good dudes that are smart, just football players.”

Matthews III is the most athletic of Michigan State’s veteran linebackers.

“You can pick your poison,” Haladay said. “JT is very physical player. Wayne is very good player as well. He is a good athlete, and very versatile too. Jordan is a versatile player.”

That athleticism has pushed talented tight end Jack Velling to up his level of play to this point in camp.

“Me and Wayne Matthews were going at it a little bit in the last scrimmage,” junior tight end Jack Velling said, “Cal is always there, Jordan Turner, and Jordan Hall. All of those guys are really looking good.”

As one of several linebackers vying for a starting job at Michigan State, Matthews III is seeking to set himself apart by playing with sound fundamentals and attention to details each day in practice.

“As a linebacker, you you want to practice good habits,” Matthews III said. “You’re running to the ball and you want to emphasize the tackle, the type of tackle you’re going to make. So, if that’s a rapid roll tackle, or a shoe tackle, that Coach (Joe) Rossi mentions, you want to get there and bring your hips so that the coaches know what type of tackle that will be.’’

Matthews III excelled in each of those areas before coming to Michigan State. Over the past two seasons at Old Dominion, Matthews III accumulated 148 tackles in 23 games. That production included 9.5 tackles for loss, four forced fumbles and three pass breakups. He reached double digits in tackles seven times at Old Dominion.

That production made Matthews III one of the highest ranked transfer prospects in the 2024 class, signing with Michigan State as the No. 19 portal linebacker and No. 205 overall portal prospect in the On3 Transfer Portal Industry Ranking. Phil Steele tabbed Matthews III even higher as the No. 4 portal backer in the 2024 Class, and a preseason third team All-Big Ten selection.

Now at the point in training camp where decisions are being made about spots in the two-deep, Matthews is confident that his focus is where it needs to be for on-field success.

“I feel like it would be attention to detail,” Matthews III said. “Attention to detail because football is a contact sport. Guys go down sometimes, so you’ve got to be ready to fill in that spot. So, you’ve got to know what you’re doing at all times. “It’s really just focus. It’s paying attention to the guys in front of you, for the younger guys, and then getting into your playbook. That’s it.’’

That means Matthews III feels as though he and his fellow linebackers should be ready to lead the way and make some noticeable noise this season on a defensive unit that wants to re-establish itself as a foundation for success in the Michigan State football program.

“I feel like everybody’s flying around,” he said. “I can’t pinpoint anybody that’s just standing out (but) I feel like the linebackers as a whole are doing their thing. We have have a lot of guys that can do different things. I feel like we have a great (linebacker) room with guys that can fly around and ball.’’

Linebackers may be the strength of the defense for Michigan State, but they will need help from their teammates on the d-line to reach their playmaking potential this season.

“All those guys. I love having them in front of me because it’s almost like the linebackers are like being a quarterback,” Matthews III said. “You know, guys protecting you. We’re helping them and they’re helping us. They’re protecting us, taking on double teams. So I appreciate those guys for doing that, and linebackers help them as well. We run to the ball and sometimes we get over the top and that brings a double team off of them and they can make plays too. So it works hand in hand.’’

With that being said, Matthews III believes Michigan State will have a new but familiar identity on defense when the Spartans open the 2024 season at home against Florida Atlantic on August 30.

“Toughness. We got some tough guys on our defense. They can fly around and make some plays,’’ he said.

The post Michigan State linebacker Wayne Matthews III looking to set himself apart with with attention to detail appeared first on On3 .