2024 Football Roster

Jeffrey Sabo
Jeffrey Sabo

15 Matt Salopek

  • Position Linebacker
  • Height 6-1
  • Weight 230
  • Class Sixth Year
  • Hometown Kent, Ohio
  • High School Archbishop Hoban

Biography

Career:
  • Played in 59 career games, more than any RedHawk in school historyMatt Salopek
  • First RedHawk in program history to record 100-plus tackles four straight years (2021-24)
  • Four-time All-MAC Performer (2024, 1st; 2023, 1st; 2022, 3rd; 2021, 2nd)
  • Four-time Academic All-MAC honoree (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)
  • 2023 MAC Defensive Player of the Year
  • 2024 All-American (Second-Team, Action Network; Honorable Mention, College Football News; Honorable Mention, Phil Steele)
  • Finished his career with 514 tackles, fifth-best in program history
  • Added 33.5 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, four interceptions, four forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries
 
2024 Highlights:
  • Played in and started all 14 games
  • First-Team All-MAC
  • Academic All-MAC
  • Named Miami's Most Valuable Player of the Year
  • Second-Team All-American by the Action Network
  • Finished the year with 122 tackles, 8.0 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack and three interceptions
  • Opened the year with 10 tackles at Northwestern
  • Had 10 tackles and an interception in the win over Ohio
  • Recorded a season-high 13 tackles in the win over NIU
  • Posted nine tackles and 1.0 sack in the victory over Ball State


2023 Highlights:
  • Played in and started all 14 games
  • Named MAC Defensive Player of the Year
  • Awarded MAC Championship Defensive Player of the Game
  • First-team All-MAC
  • Finished season with 143 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks and an interception
  • Recorded double-digit tackles in seven contests
  • Had a career-high 18 tackles in the win over Cincinnati
  • Had nine tackles and a tackle for loss in the MAC Championship win over Toledo
  • Posted 14 tackles in a win over Ohio
  • Recorded 14 tackles and 2.0 tackles for loss at UMass
  • Had nine tackles and an interception in a shutout win over Akron

2022 Highlights:
  • Third-Team All-MAC
  • Academic All-MAC
  • Played in and started all 13 games
  • Finished second on the team with 124 tackles and added 9.0 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and one forced
  • fumble
  • Recorded double-digit sacks in five different games
  • Had a career-high 15 stops and added 1.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble versus UAB in the
  • Bahamas Bowl
  • Recorded 14 tackles in the win over Ball State
  • Had nine tackles and two sacks in the win over Kent State
  • Posted nine tackles and a sack versus Cincinnati

2021 Highlights: 
  • Second Team All-MAC
  • Academic All-MAC
  • Finished second on the team with 112 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, one forced fumble and six pass breakups
  • Secured at least 10 tackles five different times
  • Had a career-high 17 tackles in a win at Ball State
  • Recorded 14 tackles in a win over Central Michigan
  • Had 12 tackles and a forced fumble in the win over Buffalo
2020 Highlights: 
  • Played in all three games
  • Finished the year with five tackles
  • Had two tackles and a sack in a win over Akron
2019 Highlights:
  • Redshirted
  • Played in three games
  • Finished the year with seven tackles 
  • Had a season-best three tackles in a win over Bowling Green
High School:
  • Graduated from Archbishop Hoban High School
  • Coached by Tim Tyrrell 
  • Team captain
  • Team won four-straight state championships
  • Finished his career with 24 interceptions, which ranks fifth all-time in the state of Ohio
  • Earned first team all-state as a junior and senior
  • Owns the school record for interceptions in a game (4) and season (9) 
Personal:
  • Majoring in Finance

Statistics

Season:
2024

Season Statistics

Season Statistics

No statistics available for this season.

Career Statistics

There are no statistics available for this player.

Historical Player Information

  • 29

    2019Freshman

    Defensive Back
    6'1" 214 lbs
    29
  • 15

    2020Redshirt Freshman

    Defensive Back
    6'1" 214 lbs
    15
  • 15

    2021Redshirt Freshman

    Defensive Back
    6'1" 215 lbs
    15
  • 15

    2021-22Redshirt Sophomore

    Defensive Back
    6'1" 215 lbs
    15
  • 15

    2022Redshirt Sophomore

    Linebacker
    6'1" 220 lbs
    15
  • 15

    2023Redshirt Junior

    Linebacker
    6'1" 230 lbs
    15
  • 15

    2024Sixth Year

    Linebacker
    6'1" 230 lbs
    15