'13 OH DE/TE Jacob Matuska (Notre Dame Signed LOI)

Ben E.

Ben E.

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i played against a kid in HS that went to michigan to play TE...he ended up playing GUARD. There are no guarentees regardless of which school he chooses.
 
M

Me2SouthBend

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From ISD Recruiting week in review
Jacob Matuska, DE, 6-5, 240, Bishop Hartley High School, Columbus, OH also attended Notre Dame’s first Junior Day. Many Irish fans hoped that Matuska might make his verbal commitment to Notre Dame on this visit but he didn’t. However, that doesn’t mean that his visit didn’t go well or that he’s far from a decision.

“It went great,” Matuska’s father Jim related. “It was a really good day. We got an opportunity to spend a lot of time with the coaches and staff and see the academics. There was much more of an opportunity to talk to the coaches and get a feel for who they are; their personalities as well as what their thoughts were. It was great. It was a small group and we had a lot of time to get questions answered.”

While Matuska met with all the coaches, his time spent with Coach Mike Elston provided the most answers for the talented Ohioan.

“He was just filling us in on who he was, a little bit about him and his history and experiences,” said the elder Matuska. “Then we talked about the position and what their thoughts were on how Jacob might fit in. We got a chance to see some videotape and see how they would use Jacob. It was really good. We had a good conversation with Coach. He was very honest with us and we know what Notre Dame thinks of Jacob and what he thinks of Jacob and where he might fit in.”

Many schools are looking at Matuska as a tight end but Notre Dame made it clear that they see him on the other side of the ball.

“Coach talked about ‘could he play tight end? yes’ but they see his best position for Notre Dame at defensive end,” Jim Matuska said. “Notre Dame has a need and they’re looking for a position. That’s where they see him. We appreciate that, we respect that and we’re honored and happy that they would think about him and consider him for that position.”

Before Matuska makes a decision to commit to anyone, he and his family want to sit down and talk about everything.

“We’ll get a chance to talk about it and put it all in perspective,” said Matuska’s father. “It’s a very big decision; obviously that’s an understatement. We don’t have a timetable, but I think we have what we need at this point. I would think it would be sooner than later if he can be confident of his decision. That could come very soon.”
 
NDhoosier

NDhoosier

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Still a little surprised he didnt commit, I wonder how much he likes the idea of being DE instead of TE. He is saying all of the right stuff, but this kid was all ND from the looks of it. Oh well, no need to rush it or anything, just a little surprised based off the reports I was hearing.
 
ThePiombino

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Seems like he is torn between attending the school he wants vs playing the position he wants. That's not to say he can't end up at TE here, but it would appear that the coaching staff is at least being up front with the likelihood of him starting off by getting a look at DE. A lot of other schools would just tell him what he wants to hear in order to get him in the door. Hats off to our staff for being upfront, even if it does cost us a recruit or two in the long run. We will have less poison in the locker rooms and transfers for their efforts.
 
B

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ThePiombino said:
Seems like he is torn between attending the school he wants vs playing the position he wants. That's not to say he can't end up at TE here, but it would appear that the coaching staff is at least being up front with the likelihood of him starting off by getting a look at DE. A lot of other schools would just tell him what he wants to hear in order to get him in the door. Hats off to our staff for being upfront, even if it does cost us a recruit or two in the long run. We will have less poison in the locker rooms and transfers for their efforts.
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^

I'd rather have them chose somewhere else than spend a year or two and leave. Best wishes to him on his deliberations!

√
 
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SoJerseyIrish

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You watch, Urban will be on his doorstep this week telling him he wants him as a DE......

Urban spends his life with his pants on fire.
 
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Grahambo

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I thought reports from a few weeks ago were saying that he wanted to play DE instead of TE?
 
Irishnuke

Irishnuke

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People are freaking out because a kid didn't commit to ND in March.
 
FLDomer

FLDomer

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This kid is ND, take some advice from Nuke and everyone needs to relax.... Its a loooong recruiting season. Sit back have a pint and relaaaax ;)
 
A

ab2cmiller

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Found this freebie from 247 dated March 3rd. Sounds like a great kid
Matuska aims for perfection

Matuska aims for perfection
Steve Wiltfong

Jacob Matuska is a “street-fight football player” according to his Columbus (Ohio) Bishop Hartley head coach Brad Burchfield.

The 6-foot-5, 240-pound Matuska has been a key component in the Hawks state championship run in 2010, and the 11-1 campaign this past fall.

The style of play is three yards and a cloud of dust, and Matuska is right in the middle of it as a ferocious blocking tight end. He also doubles as a hard-hitting outside linebacker.

“When you run power and off-tackle and you’re trying to hammer that thing in there, we think of those as street-fight plays,” Burchfield said. “You have to be able to impose your will and break someone else’s will. The athletic plays he makes are from God-given ability. He’s also able to do the tough plays.”

The hard-nosed Matuska has impressed many college coaches with his ability to make many plays. Ranked by 247Sports as the nation’s No. 6 tight end and the No. 159 prospect overall, Matuska has reeled in scholarship offers from the likes of Cincinnati, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, North Carolina State, Nebraska, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, South Florida and Syracuse.

“He’s able to block on the perimeter because he’s such a good athlete,” Burchfield said. “He’s also a great player for us on defense because of his athletic ability and because of his size. He makes the effort plays. He’s just dominating on the line of scrimmage. He’ll get out to the third level and just destroy the free safety. I don’t think those things are common.”

Bishop Hartley only throws the football a few times a game, but when asked, Matuska shows soft hands, catching nine passes, with four going for touchdowns as a junior.

Aiming for perfection

Long before Michigan and Notre Dame were battling for Matuska’s signing day signature, he was a three-sport athlete playing football, basketball and baseball with his Dad as the coach of all his teams.

“This whole process kind of makes me think back and wonder why has he been so successful,” Jim Matuska said. “I can just say he was always receptive to the little things I was asking of him. All along it was just to be the best you can be, work as hard as you can, if you’re not getting better you’re getting worse.

“We would always talk,” the elder Matuska continued. “Being the coach, as we drove home we could always talk about just the little things. He was always receptive. He didn’t say much, but he always put it into action.”

Matuska brought all those same philosophies to action in the classroom where he carries over a 3.9 GPA.

“He does his best at whatever he goes for and he works hard,” Matuska’s mother Beth began. “He’s always been that way. We’re pretty encouraging and allow our kids to be themselves. Our faith plays an important part in our family life and we have a close-knit extended family with grandparents involved and aunts and uncles and cousins. He has a lot of good guidance and we’re very proud of him.”

According to Burchfield, Matuska leaves his nastiness in the trenches on the football field.

“Whatever star he is as a player, add a star to that for him as a person,” Burchfield added. “He’s a great person, a warm and generous kid.”

Truckloads of interest

Shortly after Matuska helped Bishop Hartley win a ring in 2010, mail was flowing in from college recruiters. Jim Matuska saw it coming. His wife Beth and Jacob’s little brother and sister couldn’t believe it.

“The mailbox was full and he’d come home from school with a backpack full of mail and it would be like wow,” Beth said. “This is exciting.”

It got even more exciting during the summer when Matuska scored his first offer following Toledo’s camp. The BCS offers started to roll in during the fall and after the season.

“It was like wow, this is actually happening,” Matuska said.

Matuska grew up a Notre Dame fan, and has the obvious local ties to Ohio State, but it was Michigan that was the first program to really blow him away on a visit.

“I really didn’t know too much about Michigan,” Matuska said. “I always watched them play close games with Notre Dame and Ohio State. Then I got the offer and got to see the game atmosphere and talk to the coaches and after that, my perspective changed about them.”

Matuska camped at Notre Dame and attended the USC game during the fall. The Irish extended a scholarship on Feb. 21 and are leaning towards playing Matuska on the defensive side of the ball.

“All these years I’ve been watching them on TV and have had the Notre Dame stuff around the house,” Matuska said. “Definitely the tradition and stuff, and hoping for that offer and getting to talk to the coach and find out I have an offer from the place I watched and stayed close to all my life is a big excitement in my life.

Matuska will return to Notre Dame on Saturday to visit with the coaches and see the academic side of things.

“I’m not planning on committing,” Matuska said. “I’m just trying to look for the right place for me that can help me become a better man and better person for the rest of my life. I guess if Saturday something clicks, it’s a possibility I might, but I’m not going into it saying I’m going to commit.

Matuska added that Wisconsin and Northwestern recently increased the interest, but he hasn’t been able to look much into either program.

Matuska would like to make a college decision before the start of his senior season and knows what he’s looking for in a school.

“Obviously first is the academics,” he stated. “My whole life, I’ve been fortunate to have help from my parents to push me to be the best in everything I do and they’ve stressed academics. Football is also definitely important. You always want to go to a school you know you’ll definitely succeed at. Tradition is also big. My upbringing, the high school I’m at, tradition is a huge thing. We pride ourselves on tradition and what we’ve done in the past. I want to be comfortable around the people and coaches I’ll be around.”
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Old Man Mike

Old Man Mike

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Wonderful, young man! Great news for us, and a great lifetime decision for you. Welcome to the Notre Dame family. It was my own best longterm choice of my life, and I am confident it will be yours as well. And thanks to Mom and Dad too.
 
M

Me2SouthBend

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Excellent choice, congrats to the young man! Welcome aboard Jacob, can't wait to see you on the field for the Fighting Irish!
 
rtrn2glory

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clearly shows that this guy wants to be at ND!!!

great news/great way to start the day!!

welcome Jacob...love the Ohio boys!!!
 
Rack Em

Rack Em

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