Temple decommit considers walk-on opportunities
Call me skeptical.
Temple decommit considers walk-on opportunities
Keith Pompey, Inquirer Staff Writer
Call me skeptical.
But something doesn’t sound right here.
Broad Run High School (Va.) senior offensive lineman Jackson Matteo decommitted from Temple last week to pursue preferred walk-on offers at Virginia Tech and Virginia. His high school coach, Matt Griffis, told the Washington Post Matteo wants to play for a “bigger conference team.”
I can’t fault him for that.
But to turn down a scholarship to become a preferred walk-on sounds kind of risky. Perhaps, there’s more to this story.
Apparently, Zach Smith leaving Temple’s coaching staff to become the wideouts coach at Ohio State contributed to Matteo’s decision. Smith was Matteo’s recruiter.
“He saw that coaches don’t go to Temple to finish their career, it’s a step on the journey,” Griffis told the Post. “I think that’s a concern as a kid. He’s recruiting me, but in a few years he could be gone.”
Virginia Tech has a history of walk-ons having success, heck they put Cody Grimm from walk on to NFL a couple years ago, and if staff continuity is his priority then VT is right choice, most consistent staff in the country now that everyone is gone from PSU. Wish he would have stay with Owls but oh well.— tb42- It's hard to figure. Does Virginia Tech pay better and supply Cadillacs and kevlar vests. Virginia is a better school with a good coaching staff. Passing up a scholarship is not real bright, so Temple is not losing an academic all American. Templ now has a scholarship for a better recruit.— damnels
- What position coaches finish their career at a college? Temple's head coach left U of Florida to become the coach at Temple. I guess the UF coaches view that job as a steping stone too.— swinger18
- I agree, passing up a full paid scholarship to a "maybe" is not very smart, so I wish the kid all the best, and he will need a bit of luck to make the grade anyway. It is no wonder that the recruits at Penn State are in a panic! All their recruiters are G - O - N - E ! Now Penn State assistants will be using Penn State as a stepping stone to other jobs.— boggie
- Thats what happens when you talk to too many people. Good luck to the kid, but he missed a GREAT opportunity.— Clifton
- At least between this kid and Onett leaving it opens up chances for new recruits. Go Owls.
Pompey is a native Philadelphian and a University of Pittsburgh graduate. Follow him on Twitter @pompeysgridlock. Reach Keith at kpompey@phillynews.com.
