What’s In A Nickname? For Devon Matthews, It’s A Lot

By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - There once was The Bus, The Refrigerator, Broadway Jo, and Sweetness, and they were the stuff of football legend.

These were nicknames of former NFL standouts Jerome Bettis, William Perry, Joe Namath. and Walter Payton. You heard them, you watched them, and you knew something special would happen.

Now comes Indiana's "Monster," and what do we make of that?

Specifically, what do we make of the man behind the name, Indiana safety Devon Matthews?

As it turns out, a lot.

As nicknames go, "Monster" has its origins story. Matthews earned it as an 8-year-old defensive end sacking a quarterback so hard, off came the QB's helmet, on came the buzz.

The 6-2, 205-pound Matthews is no longer eight, but he still rocks quarterbacks, disrupts plays. and makes game-changing differences.

Monster has grown up.

On an Indiana attack defense that features a "husky" and a "bull, a "monster" has its place.

Last season Matthews earned third-team All-Big Ten honors by totaling 40 tackles, six pass breakups, one sack, and one interception.

It highlighted the progression that has seen him improve each season. He has 97 tackles and two interceptions in 31 career games.

Safeties coach Jason Jones appreciates the numbers, but he's more interested in the insight and maturity -- in other words, a ton of film study -- that produced them.

"He leads by example," Jones says. "If we have a 6 o'clock meeting, he's going to be there at 5:45. You tell him to take notes, you look at his notebook, and he's got notes on the front page and the back page."

Knowledge has always been power, even in the rugged world of college football. If you know what's going on, if you recognize tendencies, if you anticipate from preparation and not guess work, you react faster and more decisively. You have an edge, and in a game of inches, it matters.

Mathews understands safety, understands husky and cornerback, and that is important, but not conclusive. Jones pushes him to go beyond that.

"My challenge to him is to take the next step and understand what the linebackers are doing," Jones says. "Understand what is happening up front to see the entire picture."

This big-picture approach can lead to making more plays, which can lead to more victories, which can lead to a third-straight break-through season, perhaps even a championship one.

Mathews, Jones insists, is up to it.

"He is a smart young man. He understands we could put a lot on his plate and give him different options.

"Say (a team) does this. We want you to make this check and get us into this call or defense.

"This is what we are doing with him now to make that next step. We are putting more on his plate, and he has done a good job of embracing it. He is running with it."

This kind of running has helped boost his confidence.

"All of it goes back to experience," Matthews says. "I have been here four years. I've been playing since my freshman year. I feel more comfortable out there. I am also getting to know my teammates better."

As you would expect for a veteran, a bigger vocal leadership role is demanded.

"I think I stepped up more last year being more vocal," he says. "This year, I am taking it up a notch. I am talking more, communicating more."

Matthews isn't doing this in a vacuum. Consider Raheem Layne, who moved from corner to safety before missing last year due to injury.

"When we moved him from corner, he had never played safety before," Jones says. "One thing about Raheem is that he is a smart young man. Even though he was injured and as he was going through the rehab process, he still came to every team and position meeting and took notes everyday as if he was going to play.

"So as spring ball rolled around and we moved him to safety, it looks like he has been there the entire time. He made some mistakes from time to time, but it doesn't look like he is out of place. He understands what we are doing. He is really doing a great job. He is doing a great job communicating and directing traffic back there."

Also look for an impact from safety Bryson Bonds, who played in eight games as a true freshman last season.

"Bryson comes out every day and works extremely hard," Jones says. "He is a smart young man."

Sometimes too smart.

"At times, he overthinks things," Jones says. "He just needs to settle down.

"We always talk about having poise and relaxing. Once he settles down and relaxes, he is fine. He will get better as we continue to practice, and he continues to get reps. He is developing fine. He is a guy that we are expecting to provide us with some depth and should be able to help on special teams."

Indiana University Athletics

What’s In A Nickname? For Devon Matthews, It’s A Lot

Players Mentioned

Bryson Bonds

Raheem Layne

Devon Matthews

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