When new defensive line coach Tim Daoust took the podium after the first spring practice, he acknowledged that there were no clear-cut leaders in his unit just yet and that they would “forge themselves” when the time comes.
Inadvertently, that leadership role, specifically on the end of the line, will now be filled out of necessity and stepping in it will be fifth-year Kansas State transfer Nate Matlack.
When Matlack joined the Pitt program out of the transfer portal in December, it was expected that he would line up behind a pair of returning starters at defensive end.
In the span of four months, the Panthers have found themselves without both of those starters with Nate Temple ruled out of the 2024 season with an injury he sustained early in spring ball and the departure of Dayon Hayes to Colorado.
Now, that thrusts Matlack into a starting spot and leaves him with the burden of rising as a leader for his position group, which was something he already understood once the Temple news came out, but even more so now with the loss of Hayes.
“I’m definitely trying to step up in that role since Nate Temple got hurt,” Matlack said two weeks ago. “He was our leader. Since he’s not been in the meeting rooms as much, it’s been a spot for me to step up and be a leader.”
In an unfamiliar place after four years with his childhood team in Kansas State, Matlack has quickly transitioned into a more relied upon role by connecting with those on the defensive line.
“I feel like to be a leader in a group, you got to build relationships first,” he said. “I try to build relationships with everyone. They brought me in and we all feel like brothers now, so I feel like its a little easier to lead now.”
As a fifth-year senior, Matlack brings in experience from his time in Manhattan, Kan. that he can translate into his leadership role. Last season, he played in 12 games, making 15 tackles with 7.5 as a loss and four sacks.
He also brings in valuable postseason experience after helping Kansas State win a Big 12 title in 2022, which was subsequently followed by a matchup with Alabama in the Sugar Bowl.
For the Panthers, Matlack will likely be flanked on the opposite end by redshirt senior Bam Brima, who has three career starts.
Outside of that, the Panthers defensive end unit is quite raw with players such as redshirt sophomore Jimmy Scott, Clemson transfer David Ojiegbe and freshman Sincere Edwards now bound to play meaningful snaps.
“We definitely have a younger group,” Matlack said. “We have a lot of up-and-coming guys that are going to be really special players pretty soon.”
Matlack will attempt to lead Pitt’s young defensive front back to its former notoriety as one of the top sack units in the country.
“We are trying to play more vertical, get off the ball and not worry so much of what the offense is doing. Just trying to get penetration and make plays,” he said.
You know there are personnel issues when a first-year transfer is expected to take the leadership role 🙁