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#92 Matt Seiwert |
Position: Defensive Tackle Previous College: None Projection: Second-String Status: On Scholarship |
Matt Patrick Seiwert (b. Sept. 5, 1993) is an athletic defensive lineman who played linebacker in high school and saw limited action as a reserve before playing in every game as a sophomore on both defense and special teams.
He saw action in two games as a freshman in 2014, including against Stephen F. Austin, recording two tackles.
Last season, Seiwert played in all 13 games, primarily on special teams, with a start at defensive tackle in the 2016 AutoZone Liberty Bowl against Arkansas. He totaled four tackles, including a career-high two at UTSA.
Seiwert also batted away a Roadrunners pass, while he had another pass breakup at Kansas. Although I expected more out of him last year, it was a solid start to his career. Now he'll compete for a starting spot on the interior line.
A defensive line prospect from the 2012 class who grayshirted that year, Seiwert is the brother of former K-State walk-on tight end Darrin Seiwert and was a high school teammate of current Wildcats defensive end Tanner Wood.
In Travis Britz's absence, Seiwert started for Purple's defense in the 2015 spring game at defensive tackle, and had one assisted tackle and two solo tackles. He has been second-string on the depth chart for the past three seasons.
He made The Topeka Capital-Journal's Top 11 as a high school senior and was also an all-classes pick. He was a 2011 MaxPreps All-American, and a first-team All-Central Plains League pick on offense and defense.
Seiwert, who also was named co-defensive MVP for the Central Plains League, helped Conway Springs to win the 2011 Class 3A state championship with four assisted tackles, one for a loss, and a fumble recovery.
Under coach Matt Biehler, Seiwert led Conway Springs to a combined 38-4 record and two state titles in three seasons, and also earned all-league and all-state honors in basketball and javelin (in which he threw 187 feet).
Seiwert is a gifted athlete who projects well as a defensive tackle in several years, but at 285 pounds, he needs to do a little more eating this season to get closer to his target weight. He sat this spring for undisclosed reasons.