Prospect Preview: Marcus Mattox – Mpls Southwest (2021)
Coming into the 2017 football season, the Minneapolis Southwest football program was coming off back-to-back one-win seasons. Three years later, the Lakers posted a 6-2 regular season and picked up their first playoff win since 2014. Because of the 2019…
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Continue ReadingComing into the 2017 football season, the Minneapolis Southwest football program was coming off back-to-back one-win seasons. Three years later, the Lakers posted a 6-2 regular season and picked up their first playoff win since 2014. Because of the 2019 team’s experience, the Lakers’ soon to be senior Marcus Mattox Marcus Mattox DB Minneapolis Southwest | 2021 State MN was sure things were about to turn around.
“I had a little bit of (varsity) time my sophomore year,” Mattox said. “A lot of us had some experience, so going into the year, we thought we would have a good team.”
The Lakers’ formula for success was a familiar one to old school football fans like me.
“We ran the ball well,” Mattox explained. “We didn’t pass the ball much. On defense, we all trusted each other. Trust played a big role in our defense. We had a solid overall defense; we didn’t give up many big plays.”
Mattox started both ways as a junior.
“On offense, I played slot receiver. I feel like I am a good blocker and a good possession receiver. I didn’t get the ball much last year because we didn’t throw the ball much, but when the ball came my way, I made it count.”
Mattox’s primary position was on the defensive side of the ball.
“Most of the time, I was at cornerback. I would go back and play safety sometimes. I can play anywhere in the secondary. I am a solid tackler, and I am good in zone coverage. I led the team in interceptions.”
“The other corner and I got comfortable on our sides,” Mattox continued. “I usually played on the left side. We would switch off sometimes, but for the most part, I played on the left side. I would move to safety when we went to a cover two zone or if one of the starting safeties got hurt or needed a rest.”
The 5’10″ 160-pound two-way player got his feet wet on varsity as a sophomore.
“As a sophomore, I didn’t start on varsity, but I moved around a lot. I played all the secondary positions at one time or another.”
This offseason, Mattox has focused on the defensive side of the ball.
“I have been working on my explosiveness – coming out of cuts and breaking on the ball,” Mattox told prepredzone.com. “I am also working on my man coverage.”
Not just a football player, he would have been a three-sport athlete.
“I played point guard on the basketball team,” Mattox said. “People have told me I play basketball like a football player – aggressive, I bring energy and am a good defender and passer.”
Covid-19 cut short his spring athletic season.
“I was doing track, and I was going to play AAU basketball. I would have run the 200 and possibly the hurdles.”
Mattox quickly adjusted his training.
“Early on (in the shutdown), I would run on my own and do some footwork drills. Three weeks in, our quarterback got us together to run routes and work on speed drills.”
As things have opened up, so has Mattox’s training.
“I have been working with a trainer. Those workouts are mainly about explosiveness and quick bursts of speed. It is a lot of agility and band/resistance workouts.”
The Lakers’ two-way player has many schools interested in him – and one has offered.
“I have had about ten to 15 schools contact me. I have an offer from Bemidji State, but most schools say they want to see me in person. Southwest Minnesota State, Northern State, and some other DII and DIII schools are looking at me.”
Mattox said he is being recruited almost exclusively as a corner.
“They like my aggressiveness and how I attack the ball,” Mattox explained. “They say I am a solid, all-around player.”
A solid, all-around player who should get better, fits in well with a team that – last year – was a solid, all-around team that has a chance to be better as well.