By Julia Maenius, UTSA Athletics Communications
EDITOR'S NOTE: This feature appears in UTSA's game program for Saturday's contest with Rice. For the complete program, visit www.GoUTSA.com/program.
Homecoming provides UTSA with the opportunity to celebrate the history of the school and the traditions of San Antonio. For defensive lineman Brandon Matterson, every day is homecoming.
The San Antonio native took to the gridiron at a young age, building upon the skills he learned to jumpstart his defensive career.
"I started playing at a very young age," Matterson said. "Around three or four was when I started playing flag football. When I got to eight or nine, it was full pads going at it. Football has been a part of my life for a very long time."
Matterson, an alumnus of Brandeis High School, was able to continue to represent his San Antonio at the collegiate level after signing for the 2018 season. The appeal of representing his hometown on and off the field and the connection he felt to UTSA was an opportunity Matterson could not pass up.
"Being five minutes from my home did not seem like a bad idea," Matterson said. "It feels good staying home. I know a lot of the guys because I played them in high school."
Matterson was a standout for the Brandeis Broncos. He was tabbed first team All-District at defensive tackle as a sophomore and a junior. He also helped the Broncos to the playoffs off a 7-4 season.
"I will be out in public and run into people that will say, 'Hey, you played at Brandeis.'" Matterson said. "It is really nice."
As one of 29 San Antonio area players on the team, Matterson is part of a Texas-heavy roster with 90 total student-athletes representing the Lone Star State.
"You want to recruit local talent because they have the most heart when it comes to putting on for their city," Matterson said. "They can get people to the games. People want to come see the guys they know that they played with or grew up with. They want to see them succeed. They know if we succeed that they had a part in that."
As head coach Jeff Traylor has worked to turn the program around, the emphasis on San Antonio and the importance of the hometown crowd has been at the forefront of the program. Traylor highlights the local talent by recruiting heavily in the San Antonio area and by utilizing the 210 area code as part of a staple pillar in his program.
"The main thing he brought was culture," Matterson said. "He had brought a sense of integrity to the program and lots of stability. You know he has your back as long as you have his. It is like he says, he is a player's coach. If you ask or need help with anything he is there for you. He goes out of his way to get us things that we did not even know we needed.
"The thing that sold me on him was on the first day we had a meeting with him. He said we could wear hats in the meeting room, and that sold me. That was just the start. I have played for him ever since."
During his time in the Orange and Blue, Matterson has recorded 60 total tackles, 2.5 sacks and nine tackles for loss.
"It is the guy next to me," Matterson said. "I know they count on me to do my job. As long as I do it and I know they are going to do theirs, the sky is the limit for all of us. The defensive line is all about 'Everybody Eats. E.B.E' I take great pride in that."
As one of the seniors on the squad, Matterson feels the importance to leading by example through the effort he gives for his team on and off the field.
"When we are in the weight room I work as hard as I can," Matterson said. "When we are running, I work as hard as I can. In practice I run to the ball. You have to do what the coaches need you to do to be successful for the program."
Matterson has received various Conference USA accolades from his time on the defensive line. The honorable mention all-conference selection draws inspiration to lead the line from his teammates.
"A lot of the qualities that I value in a leader are things represented by guys on the team," Matterson said. "Brenden Brady, Josh Adkins and Lowell (Narcisse), they are all in a position where we know they are very good and could play. They are always here for us, cheering for us on the sideline and show up to practice every day with no complaining, no blaming and no defending. If you need something, they are there for you. When it is their time to go out there, they always show up. They do not blink. They go in and do their job. It is about the guy next to you. They are all about the guy next to them."
Stepping up on defense has also incorporated itself into post-practice activities. Matterson uses his post-work time to assist the team's managers and training staff in cleaning the field and moving the heavy equipment for them.
"I help them with the heavy stuff, or if they look like they are struggling I try to help," Matterson said. "They do so much for us. Even though I just went through practice, it is the least I can do to help them with whatever they need."
As an integral part of the UTSA defensive front, a unit that has garnered much attention for its ferocity on the field, Matterson notes that the key to a cohesive unit is to be in harmony.
"What is working for us is that we are all on the same page," Matterson said. "Everyone, Coach (Rod) Wright, Coach (Jess) Leopp, everyone has bought into the culture. We know that they have your best interest in mind, as well as the team's. As long as your interests align with the team, we are going wherever we need to go."
The 2021 season has been a historic time for the Roadrunners, and following the 52-46 win over Western Kentucky, the team is now bowl eligible after recording the best start to a season in program history. UTSA remains the only undefeated team in Conference USA.
"When I got here, we had some bad seasons," Matterson said. "Now we are starting off 6-0. It feels amazing to go through all of that and get to where we are now. It shows that we put in the work, time and bought into what the coaches are saying. The sky is the limit."
Following his graduation, Matterson plans on pursuing a career in the cyber community. As a cyber security major, he is focusing on getting an internship and exploring the opportunities given to him. Matterson knows that UTSA has put him on the right path to succeed.
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