This week the University of Tennessee at Martin sports information department put out a great story about a former high school standout who overcame injuries to finally play in his first college game at UT Martin ... during his fifth year in college.
Former high school standout returns to UT Martin gridiron five years later
By: Joe Lofaro
Former Dresden High School head football coach Craig Rogers admitted to a prep reporter at The Jackson Sun newspaper he did not understand why his star running back, Matt Hewett, was treated like Rodney Dangerfield by college coaches before the start of his senior campaign in 2006.
Hewett rushed for 1,385 yards and 18 touchdowns on 161 carries as a junior, and he missed one game with mononucleosis midway through the season, played with a bruise hip and a fractured toe. In the weight room, he was able to bench press 335 pounds, squat more than 500 pounds. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.51 seconds and had a vertical leap of more than 34 inches.
“In my opinion, he’s the best I’ve ever coached. He doesn’t have the height, but he’s compact. He trains hard and doesn’t let stuff get to him,” Rogers said. “Matt’s going to end up somewhere for college. Somebody’s going to get a steal.”
After a season-ending knee injury during his senior season in 2006 at Dresden High School, Hewett returned to the gridiron as a Skyhawk for The University of Tennessee at Martin. Head coach Jason Simpson got the steal.
Hewett, now a fifth-year senior at UT Martin, put on shoulder pads, a helmet and a uniform and wore No. 22 as the Skyhawks hosted Union College Thursday night at Hardy M. Graham Stadium on campus. The pride of Dresden played special teams and running back in the 2011 home opener for the Skyhawks.
To the general public, Hewett showed no signs of a bad knee or being out of shape. On the stat sheet the 5-9, 195-pounder rushed seven times for 48 yards and one touchdown as the Skyhawks blanked Union College 63-0. Hewett also had three total tackles on special teams. In fact, Hewett was the first player down the field on kickoffs.
“I never thought I would play again after high school,” Hewitt said.
Hewitt couldn’t stay away from the football field. He played intramurals and this summer he served as a student coach. “He was doing breakfast checks, and making sure our players were going to class,” Simpson said. “During practice he was working out the injured players.”
Despite the high school injury and being away from football, Hewett continued to work out in the weight room. His work ethic was evident. He looked like he was a football player with six-pack abs and “guns” for biceps.
“The coaches kept saying ‘come out and we will put you on special teams,’” Hewett said. “I never took them serious.”
That was until this past Monday when Hewett told the coaches he would play. He was able to practice one time before Thursday night’s game.
“I was feeling pretty good at practice, but I was pretty sore after that,” Hewett said.
By the time kickoff rolled around on Thursday, Hewett said he was pretty nervous. “I haven’t hit or been hit in a long time.”
It didn’t take long for Hewett to notice the difference between the high school game and college. “They hit a lot harder than in high school or so I remember. In high school they just gave me the ball and I ran. We have plays and assignments. We have to read the defense,” Hewett said.
The Dresden native said he just wanted to be on the field, it did not matter what position he played. “To play offense and score a touchdown put the icing on the cake.”
With Hewett’s success on the field against Union College, Simpson will have to find a way to get his newest player some more playing time.
“He brings energy to our team,” Simpson said.
The Skyhawks return to action Thursday, Sept. 22, when they host Ohio Valley Conference rival Murray State.
“The chance to play against an OVC opponent would be awesome,” Hewett said.
By: Joe Lofaro
Former Dresden High School head football coach Craig Rogers admitted to a prep reporter at The Jackson Sun newspaper he did not understand why his star running back, Matt Hewett, was treated like Rodney Dangerfield by college coaches before the start of his senior campaign in 2006.
Hewett rushed for 1,385 yards and 18 touchdowns on 161 carries as a junior, and he missed one game with mononucleosis midway through the season, played with a bruise hip and a fractured toe. In the weight room, he was able to bench press 335 pounds, squat more than 500 pounds. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.51 seconds and had a vertical leap of more than 34 inches.
“In my opinion, he’s the best I’ve ever coached. He doesn’t have the height, but he’s compact. He trains hard and doesn’t let stuff get to him,” Rogers said. “Matt’s going to end up somewhere for college. Somebody’s going to get a steal.”
After a season-ending knee injury during his senior season in 2006 at Dresden High School, Hewett returned to the gridiron as a Skyhawk for The University of Tennessee at Martin. Head coach Jason Simpson got the steal.
Hewett, now a fifth-year senior at UT Martin, put on shoulder pads, a helmet and a uniform and wore No. 22 as the Skyhawks hosted Union College Thursday night at Hardy M. Graham Stadium on campus. The pride of Dresden played special teams and running back in the 2011 home opener for the Skyhawks.
To the general public, Hewett showed no signs of a bad knee or being out of shape. On the stat sheet the 5-9, 195-pounder rushed seven times for 48 yards and one touchdown as the Skyhawks blanked Union College 63-0. Hewett also had three total tackles on special teams. In fact, Hewett was the first player down the field on kickoffs.
“I never thought I would play again after high school,” Hewitt said.
Hewitt couldn’t stay away from the football field. He played intramurals and this summer he served as a student coach. “He was doing breakfast checks, and making sure our players were going to class,” Simpson said. “During practice he was working out the injured players.”
Despite the high school injury and being away from football, Hewett continued to work out in the weight room. His work ethic was evident. He looked like he was a football player with six-pack abs and “guns” for biceps.
“The coaches kept saying ‘come out and we will put you on special teams,’” Hewett said. “I never took them serious.”
That was until this past Monday when Hewett told the coaches he would play. He was able to practice one time before Thursday night’s game.
“I was feeling pretty good at practice, but I was pretty sore after that,” Hewett said.
By the time kickoff rolled around on Thursday, Hewett said he was pretty nervous. “I haven’t hit or been hit in a long time.”
It didn’t take long for Hewett to notice the difference between the high school game and college. “They hit a lot harder than in high school or so I remember. In high school they just gave me the ball and I ran. We have plays and assignments. We have to read the defense,” Hewett said.
The Dresden native said he just wanted to be on the field, it did not matter what position he played. “To play offense and score a touchdown put the icing on the cake.”
With Hewett’s success on the field against Union College, Simpson will have to find a way to get his newest player some more playing time.
“He brings energy to our team,” Simpson said.
The Skyhawks return to action Thursday, Sept. 22, when they host Ohio Valley Conference rival Murray State.
“The chance to play against an OVC opponent would be awesome,” Hewett said.
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