2023 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Matty Armendariz, OL, Colorado School of Mines
- Name: Matty Armendariz
- Position: OL
- College: Colorado School of Mines
- Height: 6’2″
- Weight: 305 lbs
- Twitter: @Matty_A58
- Instagram: @matty_armendariz78
What made you decide you wanted to be a football player?
When I was younger, some of my favorite memories were watching football with my dad and uncle on Saturdays and Sundays. The excitement and atmosphere of college
football was something that I loved and was drawn to as a child. I always knew no matter
what, I was going to be a college football player. That is what made me decide that I
wanted to be a football player.
What are your favorite moments from your football life?
I have helped win a state championship in high school, made it to the semifinals and
championship in the DII college playoffs for the first time in program history. But my
favorite moments in my football life has been these last 2 years at Mines. Just little
things like going out to eat with the O-Line, hanging out in the lockeroom or after a
game, and even things like offseason workouts, and early morning film sessions have been so much fun and are going to be the things that I really remember going forward in life.
What are you looking to achieve as a football player going forward?
I know I still have a lot of good football left in me. All a team needs to do is give me a
shot and I am very confident in my ability to surprise people. I am striving to make an
NFL roster and do everything I can do to help an organization win some games.
If you could hang out with any football player past or present for a day who and why?
I would want to hang out with Jason Kelce. I think he is an absolutely electric person on
and off the field and is someone who I try to model my play after. I see a lot of myself in
him and think that he could teach me a lot about the game and would love to be able to
pick his brain for a day.
Which one of your family members inspires you the most and why?
My mom inspires me the most out of probably any person on this earth. She has never once doubted my ability to accomplish anything that I have set my mind to, and is always there when I face challenges or adversity even if it is to just listen to me vent. The fact that my mom and dad believe in me so deeply and never allow me to doubt myself is the single biggest reason that I think I have done all of the great things that I have done.
What is your favorite offensive scheme and why?
I love a pro-style offense where you are able to run a lot of 11, 12, and 13 personnel and grind out yards and then set up the RPOs and shots down the field. I like pulling, outside zones, and other types of plays where I am able to show off my athleticism.
What should we know about Matty Armendariz the person?
I am one of the most dedicated people that you will ever meet. Throughout my high school recruiting process I was told that I was too small to play for the recruiter’s team and used this as fuel to make me a better player. I attack every day with a chip on my shoulder which has led me to starting over 40 games straight at Mines, becoming the first 2 time Rimington Award winner in Division II, got voted 3rd for the Upshaw Award, received over 8 All-American nods being a consensus All-American in 2021 and a consensus 1st Team All-American in 2022 in only 2 years of playing center in college, while also obtaining my Master’s in Computer Science and graduating with honors.
What stands out about your film the most?
The quickness for my size, as well as you can see my film study from the week translate directly to my awareness on the field. You can see that I understand what the defense is doing/trying to accomplish and I am able to violently put a stop to line movement and blitzes that they try to throw at us in the run and pass game and open up holes.
How do you handle challenges both in life and on the football field?
Depending on the challenge, I tend to handle each challenge a step at a time if possible. Sometimes with adversity or challenges in my life on and off the field, you need to just focus on what you can control and focus on the process of trying to overcome the challenge or adversity as opposed to just looking at the result of what is happening.
What would a team get in a player like you?
They are going to get someone who loves football and the organization that I end up playing for. They are going to get someone that is dedicated to making the team better in any way possible. I am always the first person in the facility and the last person out, whether it be to get in extra meetings with my OL coach, bring the OL together to watch extra film, or even something as trivial as doing prehab and rehab in the training facility to make sure that I am able to be at the top of my game at all times.
What do you love the most about the game of football?
I love winning, but my favorite part of football is the process. I love how hard the game is and all of the film, workouts, practice, and everything that it takes to get to gameday. Playing football is a blessing and is so much fun and winning makes all of the hard work and dedication that you put into the week worth it.
Who is the most underrated player you’ve played with and why?
Riley Miller, he was a senior OT when I was making my first starts at guard my sophomore year and he really helped me learn what it meant to be a leader and was a beast on the football field. Unfortunately injuries cut his season short, but I learned a lot about how to prepare for games and be a leader from him.
