Indiana University Athletics
NOTEBOOK: Matthews Jr. Stepping Up in Return From Injury
9/13/2022 10:00:00 AM | Football
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - D.J. Matthews Jr. is back.
Did you doubt it?
Did you doubt him?
Don't make that mistake again.
The Indiana senior receiver has bounced back in a big way from last season's torn ACL. In two games, he has 10 catches (several of the spectacular variety) for 160 yards and two touchdowns. He also has returned a kickoff 13 yards.
He's a big reason (although not the only one) why the Hoosiers are 2-0 entering Saturday's game against Western Kentucky (2-0).
"He is a special young man," head coach Tom Allen says. "He and I spent a lot of time together and just trying to help him grow as a man. I've got so much respect for him.
"Just the way he has battled through the ups and downs of the recovery. It's a long, very difficult recovery. Then, as a speed guy, you rely on his quickness and his ability to get out of breaks to make him special. So that's, obviously, a big part of that type of injury, coming back from that."
Matthews had three catches for 51 yards and a touchdown in last Saturday's 35-22 comeback win over Idaho.
"He made some visible plays," Allen says, "but his leadership and desire to step up and get this thing going. We needed him to make those big plays.
"The catch he had on the sideline, there was pretty impressive. Then he followed that with a one-handed catch after that. That's what has to happen. Your best players have to step up when the team needs someone to make a play. He was the guy that rose to that occasion.
*****
Player leadership is crucial to Hoosier success. Allen keeps hammering that message. Last Saturday's second-half comeback after first-half struggles emphasized that point.
Allen doesn't want a slow-start repeat this Saturday, and it starts with the veteran leaders.
"That's where you rely on those guys to really rise up this week and help our guys," Allen says.
"We say player-led. It's such a huge part of any great team. Every team has its own personality. Every team has its own characteristics and qualities. (Leadership) is one of the strengths of this team, and it needs to continue. That's a big responsibility that I have to be able to make sure those guys understand that.
"Whether it's our captains, our leadership council guys, they've been put in those positions for a reason. We expect them to verbally and physically lead this team no matter what the situation is. The good, the bad, the ups, the downs, whatever it happens to be. That's what we're going to continue to rely on."
****
The offensive line had a strong performance against Idaho. The Hoosiers ran for 239 yards with a 6.6-yard-per-carry average as the line blew open big holes for Shaun Shivers and Josh Henderson, among others.
That was without standout lineman Matthew Bedford, who is out for the season with a torn ACL. Replacement Parker Hanna was solid in his first major college start.
"I thought (the line) responded well," Allen says. "We ran a lot better. We needed to.
"There's a chemistry involved, so not having Matt was going to be challenging and create some issues that we have to learn to work through, but I thought they played well together, ran the ball well, gave our quarterback time to throw and did a good job.
"Parker did a nice job. He is a smart, tough, dependable guy. I expect him to keep getting better."
Allen expects the entire offensive line to do the same.
"We have to keep working hard together. We're going to face bigger, more athletic groups as we go the next several weeks. They have to continue to gel and mesh and work together."
*****
Western Kentucky's offensive firepower includes a heavy dose of tailback Davion Ervin-Poindexter, the former Hoosier walk-on.
He rushed for 226 yards and a touchdown for IU last season while averaging 5.1 yards a carry. Hoosier coaches helped him find a program that would offer him a scholarship. He leads Western Kentucky with 90 rushing yards.
"I am so proud of him," Allen says. "He just worked so hard and had to play last year. We tried to help him find an opportunity to get a scholarship. He was able to do that.
"I appreciate his work ethic, his perseverance. He was a really good high school player and developed himself into a really good college player.
"He has made some really nice runs. He is one of their leading playmakers on offense. That's exciting for him. Now we have to find a way to stop him."
*****
Western Kentucky has opened with victories over Austin Peay (38-27) and Hawaii (49-17).
The Hilltoppers average 273.5 yards passing and 124 yards rushing. Quarterback Austin Reed completes 64.1 percent of his passes for 547 yards, seven touchdowns, and two interceptions.
In 2019, Reed led West Florida to a NCAA Division II national title while throwing for 4,089 yards with 40 touchdowns.
The top receivers are Davis Daewood (11 catches, 202 yards and a touchdown) and Malachi Corley (nine for 73 yards and three TDs).
A tradition of offensive excellence continues under coach Tyson Helton. Western Kentucky led the nation in offense last season, but defense is not ignored. Its attacking style is designed to test offenses early and often.
"They play really aggressive on defense," Allen says. "They have a lot of athletes, and do a tremendous job. They cause a lot of takeaways, a lot of disruption.
"They've got a really talented quarterback who has won a national championship. They have a lot of talented receivers and running backs and a good offensive line. They are a really good group up front."
While Western Kentucky is traditionally known for its potent passing attack, Allen won't overlook its run game.
"They've got several running backs they play with. They're all able to catch and run and block and do the things they need to do.
"They have some expanded run games that they didn't have last year schematically that they're now utilizing, so that makes us have more things to stop and scheme against."
Western Kentucky has never beaten a Big Ten team, but it came close with last season's 33-31 loss to the Hoosiers.
"They're a good team," Helton says about the Hoosiers. "They're doing a good job. If you look at all three phases, they look pretty stout. It's going to take our best game to win.
"Our guys are excited about the opportunity. We had a close one with them last year. I think we'll match up well with them."
Did you doubt it?
Did you doubt him?
Don't make that mistake again.
The Indiana senior receiver has bounced back in a big way from last season's torn ACL. In two games, he has 10 catches (several of the spectacular variety) for 160 yards and two touchdowns. He also has returned a kickoff 13 yards.
He's a big reason (although not the only one) why the Hoosiers are 2-0 entering Saturday's game against Western Kentucky (2-0).
"He is a special young man," head coach Tom Allen says. "He and I spent a lot of time together and just trying to help him grow as a man. I've got so much respect for him.
"Just the way he has battled through the ups and downs of the recovery. It's a long, very difficult recovery. Then, as a speed guy, you rely on his quickness and his ability to get out of breaks to make him special. So that's, obviously, a big part of that type of injury, coming back from that."
Matthews had three catches for 51 yards and a touchdown in last Saturday's 35-22 comeback win over Idaho.
"He made some visible plays," Allen says, "but his leadership and desire to step up and get this thing going. We needed him to make those big plays.
"The catch he had on the sideline, there was pretty impressive. Then he followed that with a one-handed catch after that. That's what has to happen. Your best players have to step up when the team needs someone to make a play. He was the guy that rose to that occasion.
*****
Player leadership is crucial to Hoosier success. Allen keeps hammering that message. Last Saturday's second-half comeback after first-half struggles emphasized that point.
Allen doesn't want a slow-start repeat this Saturday, and it starts with the veteran leaders.
"That's where you rely on those guys to really rise up this week and help our guys," Allen says.
"We say player-led. It's such a huge part of any great team. Every team has its own personality. Every team has its own characteristics and qualities. (Leadership) is one of the strengths of this team, and it needs to continue. That's a big responsibility that I have to be able to make sure those guys understand that.
"Whether it's our captains, our leadership council guys, they've been put in those positions for a reason. We expect them to verbally and physically lead this team no matter what the situation is. The good, the bad, the ups, the downs, whatever it happens to be. That's what we're going to continue to rely on."
****
The offensive line had a strong performance against Idaho. The Hoosiers ran for 239 yards with a 6.6-yard-per-carry average as the line blew open big holes for Shaun Shivers and Josh Henderson, among others.
That was without standout lineman Matthew Bedford, who is out for the season with a torn ACL. Replacement Parker Hanna was solid in his first major college start.
"I thought (the line) responded well," Allen says. "We ran a lot better. We needed to.
"There's a chemistry involved, so not having Matt was going to be challenging and create some issues that we have to learn to work through, but I thought they played well together, ran the ball well, gave our quarterback time to throw and did a good job.
"Parker did a nice job. He is a smart, tough, dependable guy. I expect him to keep getting better."
Allen expects the entire offensive line to do the same.
"We have to keep working hard together. We're going to face bigger, more athletic groups as we go the next several weeks. They have to continue to gel and mesh and work together."
*****
Western Kentucky's offensive firepower includes a heavy dose of tailback Davion Ervin-Poindexter, the former Hoosier walk-on.
He rushed for 226 yards and a touchdown for IU last season while averaging 5.1 yards a carry. Hoosier coaches helped him find a program that would offer him a scholarship. He leads Western Kentucky with 90 rushing yards.
"I am so proud of him," Allen says. "He just worked so hard and had to play last year. We tried to help him find an opportunity to get a scholarship. He was able to do that.
"I appreciate his work ethic, his perseverance. He was a really good high school player and developed himself into a really good college player.
"He has made some really nice runs. He is one of their leading playmakers on offense. That's exciting for him. Now we have to find a way to stop him."
*****
Western Kentucky has opened with victories over Austin Peay (38-27) and Hawaii (49-17).
The Hilltoppers average 273.5 yards passing and 124 yards rushing. Quarterback Austin Reed completes 64.1 percent of his passes for 547 yards, seven touchdowns, and two interceptions.
In 2019, Reed led West Florida to a NCAA Division II national title while throwing for 4,089 yards with 40 touchdowns.
The top receivers are Davis Daewood (11 catches, 202 yards and a touchdown) and Malachi Corley (nine for 73 yards and three TDs).
A tradition of offensive excellence continues under coach Tyson Helton. Western Kentucky led the nation in offense last season, but defense is not ignored. Its attacking style is designed to test offenses early and often.
"They play really aggressive on defense," Allen says. "They have a lot of athletes, and do a tremendous job. They cause a lot of takeaways, a lot of disruption.
"They've got a really talented quarterback who has won a national championship. They have a lot of talented receivers and running backs and a good offensive line. They are a really good group up front."
While Western Kentucky is traditionally known for its potent passing attack, Allen won't overlook its run game.
"They've got several running backs they play with. They're all able to catch and run and block and do the things they need to do.
"They have some expanded run games that they didn't have last year schematically that they're now utilizing, so that makes us have more things to stop and scheme against."
Western Kentucky has never beaten a Big Ten team, but it came close with last season's 33-31 loss to the Hoosiers.
"They're a good team," Helton says about the Hoosiers. "They're doing a good job. If you look at all three phases, they look pretty stout. It's going to take our best game to win.
"Our guys are excited about the opportunity. We had a close one with them last year. I think we'll match up well with them."
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