Syracuse Signee Evaluation: Malik Matthew

What the Orange is getting in linebacker Malik Matthew

Mike McAllister | Dec 16, 2020

Syracuse Signee Evaluation: Malik Matthew /

Player: Malik Matthew

Position: Linebacker

Height/Weight: 6-3, 210 lbs

School: Cardinal Hayes High (Bronx, NY)

Other Notable Offers: Boston College, Buffalo, Rutgers

Evaluation:

Frame: At 6-3, Matthew has great size for a linebacker. The Orange really focused on size and length in this class, and Matthew is a prime example. At only 210 pounds, he could stand to add another 10 to 20 onto that frame and it should not impact his mobility.

Athleticism: Matthew is a naturally gifted athlete who runs extremely well, shows quick twitch when rushing the quarterback and can disrupt a play quickly upon recognition. His ability to keep his speed while changing direction shows potential to be solid in coverage as well. Do not be surprised if his athleticism makes him a special teams standout early in his career.

Instincts: How well Matthew develops in terms of his read and react ability will determine how much of a contributor he becomes in his career. Matthew is extremely athletic, can run and is not afraid of physicality. The ability to diagnose plays quickly in order to disrupt them will take his game to the next level.

Polish: There is a lot to like about Matthew's potential. He has a great frame, fantastic speed for a linebacker, and has that explosiveness you love as a disrupter off the edge. Syracuse can do a lot of things with Matthew in the 3-3-5. He can play inside at times, blitz off the edge, cover the tight end over the middle or be disruptive against the run. Matthew can be a three down lineman as he refines technique, adds strength and develops as a diagnostic backer.

Bottom Line: You can never have too many big time athletes in your program, and Matthew is exactly that. He will contribute on special teams early and had the potential to become another of these fast, disruptive linebackers that Syracuse has had the last couple of years.

Published Dec 16, 2020

MIKE MCALLISTER

Title: Publisher All Syracuse Education: Roberts Wesleyan College Location: Syracuse, New York Expertise: Syracuse basketball, football and recruiting. EXPERIENCE Mike McAllister has been covering Syracuse basketball, football and recruiting for more than a decade. Mike's career started with his own free blog as a way to vent following sporting events. Shortly thereafter, a network of basketball sites called Coast 2 Coast Hoops asked him to run their Syracuse site. That site was called Nation of Orange, and Mike quickly established it as a go-to for Syracuse fans. After running Nation of Orange for several months, a position with the Syracuse site on the Scout network became available. After one year as the recruiting expert with Cuse Nation, he was named the publisher. Mike oversaw the transition from Scout to 247Sports, and ran the site on that network for years. Presented with the opportunity to join one of the biggest names in the sports journalism industry, Sports Illustrated, Mike jumped at the chance. All Syracuse was started from scratch by Mike and the Fan Nation team. It has now become a staple for Orange fans of various sports. Mike has broken news on recruiting, Syracuse basketball and football team information and has established himself as the top recruiting inside in the market. He has appeared on local radio shows, television broadcasts, national radio shows and much more. Mr. McAllister has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting and Information Management from Roberts Wesleyan College.