Indiana Football Wide Receiver D.J. Matthews’ Kids Plus Tom Allen Spark Motivation for Return

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Indiana soccer extensive receiver D.J. Matthews Jr. knew he was achieved. The pop, the shortcoming to stroll it off and the devastation are all what comes with a torn ACL, and that is precisely what occurred final season.

“I by no means watched the play once more,” Matthews mentioned on this week’s press convention. “I simply keep in mind dropping the punt and telling myself ‘get down on it.’ After I was down there, I used to be like ‘ugh, my knee.’ I used to be attempting to stand up, however I knew ASAP it was a sense I’ve by no means felt earlier than.”

His left ACL was shot in week 4 of the season at Western Kentucky, one in all two video games the Hoosiers gained within the 2021 season. 

Then got here the robust half: surgical procedure restoration and deciding whether or not or to not return to Indiana for Matthews’ fifth season of faculty soccer.

“That is in all probability the primary time I ever had my coronary heart damaged,” Matthews mentioned. 

Initially from Jacksonville, Fla., Matthews performed at Florida State for 3 seasons earlier than taking break day of soccer within the 2020 season.

Whereas sporting a Seminoles jersey, Matthews had a profession common of 10.4 yards per punt return rating tenth in class historical past with 582 punt return yards with 56 punt returns.

Matthews will once more get an opportunity to relive that glory as he returns to the sphere all because of his youngsters Seyvnn and child D.J. and head coach Tom Allen for serving as motivation.

“Seyvnn’s doing nice,” Matthews, who wears the No. 7 jersey, mentioned. “She’s getting greater. Horrible two age, so she’s operating Daddy loopy, and she or he’s actually my largest motivation.”

After his surgical procedure final season, the toddler sat in mattress together with her dad and positioned her little hand on his knee. 

“‘Daddy, you okay?’ simply rubbing my knee,” Matthews mentioned of his daughter. “I used to be like ‘child, that harm, you may’t do this proper now.’”

Matthews mentioned his youngsters knew he was off since he wasn’t smiling on a regular basis like normal. He entered a little bit of a depressive state as an athlete would once they know a protracted restoration journey is forward of them.

Matthews’ household pulled him out of his disappointment, he mentioned. Seyvnn would even run across the halls holding her dad’s soccer bringing Matthews to tears.

“At occasions I’d cry and be like, ‘wow she actually is aware of what her dad does,’” he mentioned.

In the meantime, Coach Tom Allen was additionally serving as motivation for his participant, speaking subsequent steps with Matthews.

“I knew he was struggling particularly in that point when the season was over and we’re out recruiting, and he is nonetheless having post-surgery, not far faraway from that,” Allen mentioned. 

On prime of that, the soccer workers was within the midst of hiring new offensive coordinator Walt Bell and different place coaches. The unknown diploma of an damage plus an evolving offense after a tough Indiana season was sufficient to spark some doubt.

“It was a tricky resolution,” Matthews mentioned. “I used to be telling my dad and mom that just about I used to be achieved, however the relationship I constructed with Coach Allen may be very robust, and he simply helped me via my entire course of. With faith, he made positive I used to be a person of God and a person of my phrase after which on prime of that, my kids. 

“I by no means wish to stop. My kids look as much as me. I’m their hero, so once they become older, they’re going to see the trials and tribulations that their dad went via and the entire adversity that I confronted. I don’t ever need them to see that I stop something. End out regardless of the end result.”

Allen mentioned him and Matthews spend a number of time collectively one on one and are very shut. To date, Matthews is working towards properly and is protecting his reps proper the place they must be in fall camp.

Matthews mentioned he is had some sore days that had been mentally robust for him, however this week was the primary time he bodily felt like himself once more.

“I got here out and I felt actually nice,” he mentioned. “I used to be nonetheless battling out of a hunch early in fall camp, so, simply telling my teammates regularly ‘I’m attempting to get again, you already know, I’m attempting to get again. I’m attempting to get again to myself. I wish to really feel higher.’”

Re-developing bodily is one factor, however Matthews has additionally been tapped as one of many leaders within the extensive receiver room, a problem Allen mentioned he is responded to properly.

“I’m not the kind of man to be yelling at individuals or attempting to ensure all people is doing every thing proper,” Matthews mentioned. “If I see one thing, I’ll level it out. If individuals have questions, I assist them. Not on a regular basis do I do know the solutions, so they assist me too.”

With the season opener approaching on Sep. 2 versus Illinois, Matthews has loads of individuals to again him up as he returns to the sport he loves for a contemporary begin — his household together with his mini supporters Seyvnn and D.J. and his beloved coach.

“I needed him to be right here as a result of he needed to be right here, and his coronary heart informed him that that is the place he is speculated to be,” Allen mentioned.

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