'Tackling Machine': The Matt Salopek Story

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Matt Salopek wanted to quit football in fifth grade.

"I didn't think it was for me; I didn't like all the hitting," the reigning MAC Defensive Player of the Year said with a wry smile.

That seems more than a bit ironic, coming from a star linebacker known now as a 'tackling machine.' Matt Salopek at Cincinnati

"It definitely is," Salopek laughed. "When I first started playing, I wasn't totally into it. My parents definitely pushed me…and it was the best decision ever.

"I didn't realize what you can get out of [football] back then, but it's a special thing."

Salopek obviously stuck with the sport long enough to both embrace its physicality and learn how to excel on the defensive side of the ball, and that's paid off in an incredibly successful gridiron career for the Kent, Ohio native. After winning four consecutive state titles in high school with Archbishop Hoban, Salopek joined Miami Football and has been part of two Mid-American Conference championship teams (2019 and 2023).

"I thought back in 2018 that Coach Martin was ready to win a couple of MAC championships," said Salopek. "I truly believed in that, and obviously it's paid off."

Most recently, Salopek was named the Defensive Player of the Game as the RedHawks took down No. 23 Toledo 23-14 at Ford Field this month to snap the Rockets' 11-game winning streak, avenge a regular-season defeat and claim Miami's 17th MAC crown.

"It was unbelievable. I was just so happy that we were able to accomplish something when so many people thought we couldn't," Salopek said, referencing the RedHawks' five consecutive wins after starting quarterback Brett Gabbert suffered a season-ending injury in the October loss to Toledo.

"It was a really special moment. The MAC Championship is our entire goal of the season. We do everything to get to Detroit and win in Detroit.

"That's our Super Bowl."

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Salopek made plenty of impressive plays in the championship game to help Miami earn the hard-fought victory, leading the Red and White in tackles for the seventh time this season with nine stops.

However, the highlight that head coach Chuck Martin couldn't stop talking about after the game came on the second snap of the second half.

"We couldn't have scripted that play any better, right?", Martin said. "Get the Offensive Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, put them one-on-one, and see what happens."

It seemed almost like the famous Spiderman meme, with a near-mirror image of two great players staring each other down and facing off in close proximity.

Toledo quarterback Dequan Finn faked…and juked…and hesitated…and cut…and stiff-armed…

And Salopek calmly wrapped him up and brought him down for no gain.

Matt Salopek tackles Dequan Finn in MAC Championship Game

Matt Salopek tackles Dequan Finn in MAC Championship Game

"I think it was the most athletic thing I've ever done in my life," Salopek admitted.

"We had a call on our defense…in that play, Caiden Woullard was going to chase down the line of scrimmage and tackle the running back and I would come off the edge and take the quarterback…Finn is a very dynamic and explosive guy…he's one of the most athletic guys I've ever seen in this conference, so I was a little nervous the entire week. There was a lot of space for us…a lot of room if you miss the tackle.

"But I think that's what I've done all season – been a great tackler. He tried to juke me out a couple times, and I just stayed square, read his hips and made a great play."

"That one was pretty cool because you had the two best players in the conference going right at each other," assistant coach Bill Brechin agreed. "Matt put himself in a good position. His body was underneath him…he did a nice job and squared him up and made it difficult for Finn to really make him miss in a ton of space.

"That's the thing about Matt: He understands leverage, understands where his help is and all those things. You can coach it. You can rep it. But a lot of times…you just have it inside you."

Although Brechin carries the official title of defensive coordinator, he is quick to point out that Salopek basically functions as another coordinator on the field. Recruited as a safety and then moved from nickel back to linebacker after Ryan McWood got hurt in 2021, Salopek has been a standout in his new spot over the past couple of seasons.

"Since then, he has really owned the position," Brechin said. "He's always been smart, and since he took over that position, he's been not just a great player on our defense, but he runs our defense.

"He manages everything: What our checks are, what calls we're getting in, and making sure everybody is on the same page in terms of our communication.

"You really can't put into words what Matt means to our defense."

While Salopek's mind is 'going a million different ways' pre-snap as he analyzes the alignment of each opposing player to try to get his squad into the best call and formation, once the play begins, the focus becomes much more simple and straightforward.

See ball. Stop ball. Matt Salopek vs. Akron

"At the end of the day, you've just got to go hit somebody and go tackle somebody," Salopek said.

"So many people try to over-complicate it, but that's all it is…

"You've got 11 guys; they've got 11 guys. They're going to run a play; we're going to run a play. They're going to try to get yards; we're going to try to stop them."

And more often than not, Salopek and the defense come out on top. Miami shut out two conference opponents this year and allowed less than 11 points per game in MAC play to rank as the league's best scoring defense since 2000, with Salopek almost always in the middle of the action.

In fact, when Akron came to town in November, Salopek forced three turnovers by himself (two fourth-down tackles plus his first career interception)!

"Matt's able to put himself in position pre-snap to be able to do a lot of those jobs, but at the same time…he's able to react very quickly, and he's just got an innate knack to get to the football," said Brechin.

"He's always around the football, whether he makes the tackle or not."

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It goes without saying that replacing a player of Salopek's caliber won't be easy.

Thankfully for Martin, Brechin, and the Miami Football coaching staff, they don't need to worry about that quite yet.

The redshirt junior made news last week by announcing on social media that he will return to the program for his final season of eligibility in 2024. Several key players on offense, defense and special teams have made the same decision, including Gabbert, star wideout Gage Larvadain, Lou Groza Award winner Graham Nicholson, second-leading-tackler Ty Wise, veteran offensive linemen Kolby Borders and Reid Holskey, defensive lineman Kobe Hilton and tight end Jack Coldiron.

Salopek, a two-time Academic All-MAC honoree who has already completed his Bachelor's degree in Finance and is earning a Master's in Sport Analytics from Miami, said choosing to return for one last go-round as a RedHawk was not difficult.

"I've always thought this is where I want to be," Salopek explained. "I'm happy. I know the people I'm around. I have great relationships with my coaches and my teammates…I love who I come to work every day and what I do, so it wasn't hard to make that decision.

Matt Salopek vs. Toledo in MAC Championship Game

Matt Salopek vs. Toledo in MAC Championship Game

"I want to be here and I want to win another MAC Championship and maybe go to the Playoff. I think we can do that and I hope people follow suit and stay here and try to build something special."

First things first: Salopek and the RedHawks still have one more game to play in the 2023 season, a Saturday date with App State in the Avocados from Mexico Cure Bowl in Orlando, Fla. With a victory, Miami would finish the year with 12 wins, the second-highest total in school history. It would be the perfect cap to a memorable campaign that's filled up the program's trophy case, including going on the road to win the Victory Bell in overtime, pounding Ohio in the Battle of the Bricks, holding off Ball State in the RedBird Rivalry, and, of course, capturing the MAC hardware.

But maybe, just maybe, it's not too early to glance at the ever-growing collection of #ThoseWhoStay social media graphics – complete with the CFP logo at the bottom – and dream of a little more program history when next fall rolls around for this talented core of returners.

Yes, Detroit is Miami's 'Super Bowl', and attempting to repeat as MAC champs is the main task at hand.

But with the expansion of the College Football Playoff field from four teams to 12 in 2024, the question is worth asking: Could the Red and White become the first team in MAC history to qualify for the CFP?

Sounds like the perfect assignment for Salopek and his teammates to 'tackle.'

Find more Front Row Features at: MiamiRedHawks.com/FrontRowFeatures

Matt Salopek and the Miami University football team take on App State Saturday, Dec. 16 in the Avocados from Mexico Cure Bowl. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. at FBC Mortgage Stadium in Orlando and tickets are available now. The game will be televised on ABC and streamed on ESPN+. For more information on how to support Miami Football this postseason, check out our Bowl Central page.

'Tackling Machine': The Matt Salopek Story

Players Mentioned

Kolby Borders

Jack Coldiron

Brett Gabbert

Kobe Hilton

Reid Holskey

Gage Larvadain

Ryan McWood

Graham Nicholson

Matt Salopek

Ty Wise

Caiden Woullard

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