DIPRIMIO COLUMN: Circle of Football Life to Return Bryant, Matthews to Jacksonville

By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Khalil Bryant embraces the circle of football life.

Indiana success has its benefits.

The Hoosier senior safety's football career began in Jacksonville, Fla. His final college game will come there courtesy of the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl.

"To be playing my last Indiana game there," Bryant said, "it's surreal. What are the odds that I get to play my last college game at home? Not a lot of people get this opportunity. I want to make the most of it."

So does the other Jacksonville native on IU's roster, sophomore safety Devon Matthews.

"I'm getting the chance to go back home to where my friends and family are," Matthews said. "My family doesn't have to travel.

"It's a good opportunity for both of us to play in our hometown."

Bryant and Matthews are among the 26 Hoosiers who come from Florida, a reflection of head coach Tom Allen and his staff's strong recruiting in this talent-rich state.

IU (8-4) will play Tennessee (7-5) on Jan. 2, 2020, at TIAA Bank Field, which is the home of the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars. Both Bryant and Matthews have watched games there.

"My uncle was a season ticket holder," Bryant said. "I've been to quite a few of their games. It was like a learning experience – one day we could be here (as a NFL player)."

Matthews said he's only been to one game, but also used it get a sense of what being a NFL player would be like.

While the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl looms as a huge opportunity, Bryant said it wasn't necessarily his bowl preference.

"I wanted to go to any bowl game. We just wanted the best bowl possible."

That it will turn into a homecoming just added to the excitement.

"The Gator Bowl is home," Bryant said. "I haven't played at home since 2015. It will be a great homecoming."

A pause.

"We've got to win it this time."

Bryant played in IU's last bowl, a 26-24 loss to Utah in the 2016 Foster Farms Bowl in Santa Clara, Calif.

The Hoosiers haven't won a bowl since beating Baylor in the Copper Bowl in 1991. They've lost their last four bowl appearances.

They are determined to change that, Bryant said.

"The focus is not just on going to a bowl. The goal is to win. We've got a laser-like focus to do that.

"We're all on the (game) film, the fundamentals, our technique. I want to leave the program on a good note, I want a great end to the season."

Allen will give his players a break to go home for Christmas. Bryant and Matthews said they will use the time to spread the word that they -- and the Hoosiers -- will be playing in Jacksonville.

"The word is already out, on social media and everything," Bryant said. "We're trying to get the word out further, let everybody know that we're coming home to play."

As far as what fans can do in Jacksonville, Matthews said, focus on the beach.

"If you hang out on the beach, you don't have to worry about anything."

Bryant and Matthews were former teammates at Jacksonville's Ribault High School for a year before Bryant switched to First Coast High School.

Bryant said he was a big reason why Matthews chose the Hoosiers. He made a strong pitch while hosting Matthews during his official recruiting visit.

"When he first got here, it was like, I'll look out for him. Make sure he's good."

Matthews was very good. He played in 10 games as a true freshman last year. He totaled 20 tackles with one interception, one fumble recovery and one pass breakup.

This season the 6-2, 200-pounder has 34 tackles to rank sixth on the team. He matched a career-high with six solo tackles in the Old Oaken Bucket win over Purdue.

More and more, Matthews is showing the fiery play that helped him earn the nickname of "Monster" as an 8-year-old defensive end. As a Ribault senior, he forced six fumbles, recovered two fumbles, intercepted a pass, broke up seven others.

The 5-10, 205-pound Bryant has had -- as you would hope from a senior -- his best season. His 53 tackles rank second to linebacker Micah McFadden's 56. He's also recovered a fumble.

He had a career-high 10 tackles at Nebraska, then followed that up with 10 tackles against Penn State and Michigan. He made Academic All-Big Ten for the second time.

This is what IU coaches had envisioned after watching him dominate at First Coast High School. As a senior, he had 112 tackles, two interceptions, 17 pass breakups, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and a touchdown. 247Sports rated him as the nation's No. 64 safety.

Bryant and Matthews are big reasons why Indiana will play in its first-ever Florida bowl game.

They very much want to make the most of it.

"To think it's my first bowl game, (Bryant's) final college game, to get all that support, means a lot," Matthews said.

Indiana University Athletics

DIPRIMIO COLUMN: Circle of Football Life to Return Bryant, Matthews to Jacksonville

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