Adam Amato Photo Editor
Redshirt junior Jerry Matson played football for the first time as a freshman at Kamiak
High School in Mukilteo, Wash. This season, he is third on the Oregon defense with 72
tackles. Matson also has 12.5 tackles for loss, one sack and one fumble recovery.
Adam Amato Photo Editor
Linebacker Jerry Matson (52) grabbed his first college interception against UCLA, returning it 22 yards for a touchdown.
SINKER
continued from page 3B
The 21-year-old took his time
deciding which program he wanted
to go into after high school. He
opted to walk on at Oregon because
the program meshed with his ideals.
"There were small schools I could
go to, but I looked at them, across
the board, and the linebackers,"
Matson said. "If you're going to roll
the dice and gamble, you should
gamble with the best odds. I looked
at Kevin Mitchell and Eric Cheney
and (former Ducks) Ty Tomlin and
Wesly Mallard. They're all the small
er guys that played hard and played
"He brings a lot to the table. He seems like a guy who's
nervous, but he's really not. That's just the way he is
before a game. His moter keeps running all the time."
. Kevin Mitchell
Oregon linebacker
fast. I was like, 'I have a better chance
at doing that than doing what they’re
trying to do down at UCLA or USC
or UW or anything like that."
The 6-foot-1 redshirt junior said
he enjoys being "the hunter and not
the hunted" as a linebacker. As a link
between the secondary and the
defensive line, Matson enjoys his role
in the game and comes out ready to
go hard constantly.
'Game day, he's pretty fired up,*
Siegel said. "He's not really very talk
ative. He keeps it all in and lets it
build, and he really isn't the same
guy on game day as he is any other
day. By the time kickoff comes, he's
just a savage."
The intensity Matson brings to the
game has been recognized by
teammates since his high school days.
At Oregon, his passion is
appreciated and helps motivate
teammates on game day.
"He brings a lot to the table,"
Mitchell said. "He seems like a guy
who's nervous, but he's really not.
That's just the way he is before a
game. His motor keeps running all
the time."
Matson's always on the go.
Whether it's to practice, class or a
presentation for one of his business
courses, he's on the go and focused
on what he needs to do.
He decided on his business major
after he took a couple classes —
including finance — and enjoyed
them.
"I just always pictured myself as a
business guy," Matson said. "I just
took an entrepreneurship class. I'm
really interested in starting my own
business, but I'd like to get some real
word experience first. Eventually, if 1
have a good enough idea. I'd like to
be my own manager."
When Matson's not on the foot
ball field or hitting the books, he's
likely outdoors. The Alaskan
upbringing has stuck with him in the
way of fishing and rafting. Before
they moved, his dad was a fisherman
in Alaska.
"Seattle had a lot of opportunities
for me, and one of them was foot
ball," Matson said. "My mom said 'I
don't want you playing football.' I
said 'Mom, I don't get hit. I make hits'
"I like that aspect."
Contact the senior sports reporter
at mindirice@dailyemerald.com.
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