By REGGIE BENSON, Huntsville Times
Unrecruited at winless Lee last year, freshman kicks well for Bulldogs
Literally, Grant Mattix had no place to go. Nobody wanted him, despite his kicking prowess, after the Lee High Generals failed to win a game last year.
"I didn't have that many options," said Mattix, who went to kicking camps at Auburn and North Alabama but drew little attention. "Nobody came to watch us play because we were so bad."
While the Generals may have been bad, Mattix was pretty good.
He became a starter for the Generals midway through his sophomore year and earned All-City and All-Region honors as a junior. While Mattix's senior year didn't go as planned, he was determined to play college football.
Fortunately for Mattix and Alabama A&M, Bulldogs coach Anthony Jones gave him an opportunity.
"My money situation wasn't the best, but I could afford to go A&M," said Mattix, a 5-foot-9, 139-pound freshman. "I wanted to play football so I came and talked to Coach Jones.
"I just wanted to play and this was close to home. I didn't care if I started or not. I just wanted to play."
Mattix has played. In fact, he's played in all three of A&M's games this season.
Mattix and Rashan Cylar split the kickoff duties in the Bulldogs' first two games against Tennessee State and Clark Atlanta. However, Mattix had the kickoff duties all to himself and was superb on Saturday night against Mississippi Valley in A&M's Southwestern Athletic Conference opener.
He was so good that he was named A&M's special teams player of the week after helping the Bulldogs hold Mississippi Valley State kick returner Clarence Cotton in check.
"That was a big thrill," Mattix said.
Cotton entered the game leading the league in kickoff returns (23.4) and was second in punt returns (14.4) and all-purpose yards (163). He managed only 58 yards on the night, including only 11 yards on three kickoff returns.
"They wanted me to squib kick down the sideline as deep as I could get it and the coverage teams did a great job," said Mattix, refusing to take much of the credit. "I just went out there and did what the coaches asked me to do."
Mattix will likely be called on again Saturday night when No. 23 A&M visits Grambling in an important SWAC battle. Kickoff is 6 and the game will televised on a delayed basis on ESPNU at 9.
The Tigers have two dangerous kickoff returners in Kiare Thompson and Kovarus Hills. Thompson is averaging 23.3 yards per return, while Hills is averaging 25.5 yards.
Mattix's rise in football was slow in coming.
He had been a soccer and baseball player before trying out for the football team. Initially, Mattix was a wide receiver but was quickly moved to kicker.
"We realized he had a pretty good leg," said Richard Wilson, who serves as Lee's kicking coach. "We were trying to find a kicker and he really fit the role and did a great job.
"He's got such a great work ethic and he has a terrific attitude. He's up early and stays late and wants to get better. The best thing about him is he's such a good kid."
Jones agreed.
"Grant stayed here this summer and worked extremely hard," he said. "He has not created any problems and has turned out to be a good football player."
Wilson is tickled to death.
"I am so proud of him," he said. "He had gone to UNA and down to Auburn and he realized he wasn't ready for that level. He needed an opportunity and Coach Jones gave him one and it has worked out."
Literally, Grant Mattix had no place to go. Nobody wanted him, despite his kicking prowess, after the Lee High Generals failed to win a game last year.
"I didn't have that many options," said Mattix, who went to kicking camps at Auburn and North Alabama but drew little attention. "Nobody came to watch us play because we were so bad."
While the Generals may have been bad, Mattix was pretty good.
He became a starter for the Generals midway through his sophomore year and earned All-City and All-Region honors as a junior. While Mattix's senior year didn't go as planned, he was determined to play college football.
Fortunately for Mattix and Alabama A&M, Bulldogs coach Anthony Jones gave him an opportunity.
"My money situation wasn't the best, but I could afford to go A&M," said Mattix, a 5-foot-9, 139-pound freshman. "I wanted to play football so I came and talked to Coach Jones.
"I just wanted to play and this was close to home. I didn't care if I started or not. I just wanted to play."
Mattix has played. In fact, he's played in all three of A&M's games this season.
Mattix and Rashan Cylar split the kickoff duties in the Bulldogs' first two games against Tennessee State and Clark Atlanta. However, Mattix had the kickoff duties all to himself and was superb on Saturday night against Mississippi Valley in A&M's Southwestern Athletic Conference opener.
He was so good that he was named A&M's special teams player of the week after helping the Bulldogs hold Mississippi Valley State kick returner Clarence Cotton in check.
"That was a big thrill," Mattix said.
Cotton entered the game leading the league in kickoff returns (23.4) and was second in punt returns (14.4) and all-purpose yards (163). He managed only 58 yards on the night, including only 11 yards on three kickoff returns.
"They wanted me to squib kick down the sideline as deep as I could get it and the coverage teams did a great job," said Mattix, refusing to take much of the credit. "I just went out there and did what the coaches asked me to do."
Mattix will likely be called on again Saturday night when No. 23 A&M visits Grambling in an important SWAC battle. Kickoff is 6 and the game will televised on a delayed basis on ESPNU at 9.
The Tigers have two dangerous kickoff returners in Kiare Thompson and Kovarus Hills. Thompson is averaging 23.3 yards per return, while Hills is averaging 25.5 yards.
Mattix's rise in football was slow in coming.
He had been a soccer and baseball player before trying out for the football team. Initially, Mattix was a wide receiver but was quickly moved to kicker.
"We realized he had a pretty good leg," said Richard Wilson, who serves as Lee's kicking coach. "We were trying to find a kicker and he really fit the role and did a great job.
"He's got such a great work ethic and he has a terrific attitude. He's up early and stays late and wants to get better. The best thing about him is he's such a good kid."
Jones agreed.
"Grant stayed here this summer and worked extremely hard," he said. "He has not created any problems and has turned out to be a good football player."
Wilson is tickled to death.
"I am so proud of him," he said. "He had gone to UNA and down to Auburn and he realized he wasn't ready for that level. He needed an opportunity and Coach Jones gave him one and it has worked out."
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