When Wayne Matthews III first stepped onto the grass in East Lansing, he wasn't exactly a household name in the Big Ten. Honestly, if you weren't deep into Sun Belt late-night football, you probably missed his absolute tear at Old Dominion. But for those watching Wayne Matthews Michigan State film over the last two seasons, it's clear the Spartans didn't just get a "transfer linebacker." They got the heartbeat of a defense trying to find itself under Jonathan Smith.
It's sorta wild how fast things move in the portal era. One day you're the star of the Monarchs, and the next, you're expected to fill the shoes of Spartan legends in one of the most physical conferences in the country.
The Old Dominion "Stat Monster" Myth
A lot of fans looked at Wayne's 135 tackles in 2023 and thought, "Okay, he's just a tackle machine who benefits from a high-volume system." That's basically the first thing people get wrong. Matthews wasn't just falling onto piles. He was creating the piles.
Coming out of Charles Herbert Flowers High School in Maryland, he was a three-star recruit who didn't have the typical Big Ten frame yet. He spent his redshirt year and his freshman season at ODU just getting his body right. By 2023, he was Third-team All-Sun Belt, racking up 9.5 tackles for loss and three forced fumbles.
He didn't just bring stats to East Lansing. He brought a "find the ball" instinct that Joe Rossi’s defensive scheme desperately needed.
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That Scary Night in Los Angeles
You can't talk about Wayne Matthews Michigan State without mentioning the USC game in September 2025. It's one of those moments that makes you hold your breath. Late in the first half, Matthews went down after a collision. The stretcher came out. The neck brace. The ambulance.
The stadium went silent.
It was a terrifying scene for his teammates and family. But the toughness this guy has? It's unreal. After being released from a Los Angeles hospital, he actually flew back with the team. Just a few weeks later, he was back on the field against Nebraska, recording five tackles like nothing had happened. That sort of resilience is why the coaching staff leans on him.
Breaking Down the 2025 Impact
If we're looking at the raw numbers for the 2025 season, Matthews finished with 73 total tackles.
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- Solo Tackles: 32
- Assisted Tackles: 41
- Tackles for Loss: 4.5
- Interceptions: 1 (He picked off Western Michigan to start the season hot)
He wasn't just a "box" linebacker. Matthews showed he could drop into coverage, which is a rare trait for a guy who weighs in at around 230 pounds. His 699 defensive snaps were the most of any linebacker on the team. Think about that. In a season where the defense struggled with depth and consistency, he was the one guy they couldn't take off the field.
He and Jordan Hall basically became a two-man army in the middle. While the defense as a whole gave up more points than anyone in East Lansing is comfortable with—averaging over 31 points per game—you can't pin that on the linebacker play. Without Matthews stabilizing the second level, things would have been significantly worse.
Why NFL Scouts Are Intrigued
Wayne Matthews III isn't the 6'4", 250-pound "thumper" that used to define Michigan State football in the 90s. The game has changed. Today, the NFL wants "sideline-to-sideline" speed.
He's got the athleticism to chase down a screen pass and the IQ to read a quarterback's eyes. That interception against Western Michigan wasn't luck; it was positioning. Scouts from teams like the Seahawks and Buccaneers have reportedly been keeping tabs on his transition from the Sun Belt to the Big Ten. The jump in competition is the "litmus test" for portal players. Matthews passed it.
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The Reality of the Spartan Defense
Look, let's be real for a second. Michigan State's defense has been a bit of a mess. They've struggled to get a consistent pass rush, and the secondary has been gashed.
But Matthews has been the "bridge" player. He’s the guy who stayed vocal during the blowouts. He's the veteran who helped younger guys like Brady Pretzlaff find their footing. You've gotta respect a guy who finishes his eligibility by giving 700 snaps to a rebuilding program.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Scouts:
- Watch the Lateral Quickness: If you're evaluating his pro potential, don't look at the sack numbers. Look at how he scrapes across the line of scrimmage to stop a zone-read.
- Resilience Factor: His return from the USC injury is a massive "character" checkmark for NFL front offices.
- System Versatility: He played multiple roles in Joe Rossi's defense, proving he can handle the complex "Green" and "Money" roles in a pro-style scheme.
Wayne Matthews III leaves Michigan State as an Honorable Mention All-Big Ten player. While he wasn't there for a long time, he made sure his time there mattered. He was the definition of a "pro's pro" in a college jersey.