Izzy Matthews is the hard-nosed running back Rams need to lead

Izzy Matthews is nothing if not a hard-nosed football player.

After the team’s first day in full pads during their spring practice sessions, there was the sophomore running back, with an indentation from his helmet on his forehead. No matter if it’s practice or in a game, Matthews only knows one way to play; with physicality.

When I asked the bruising back what part of the game he prides himself in the most, he answered, “Just my ability to not go down with the first hit. You know, a lot of guys come and they bounce off and they fall off. Just my ability to keep going after the first tackler comes is probably what gets me those extra three or four yards.”

He’s right, and it’s a way he’s earned the nickname “The Closer.”

Last season, as a true freshman, Izzy did most of his damage late in games and late in the year. During the last four regular season games, Matthews rushed for 331 yards and four touchdowns, then added another 87 yards in the NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl. At 6-foot and 215 pounds, he utilizes his size well by punishing defenders before going down, hitting the ball up in the hole and finding yards where it doesn’t look like there are any.

As a freshman, he gained a total of 590 yards with five touchdowns on a stellar 6.1 yards per carry average. Plus, he caught four passes out of the backfield for another 43 yards. It leaves Ram fans anxiously awaiting what he can do next, in 2016, his sophomore campaign.

So, how can he improve? In two ways. First and foremost, he needs to be more consistent in every practice and on every play. Secondly, Matthews has to improve in pass-blocking to become the three-down back he desires to be.

“He possesses the skills if he pushes himself every snap,” head coach Mike Bobo said. “If you’re going to be an every down back, you’ve got to play four quarters and be able to carry it 30 times. He hasn’t arrived because of the season he had last year. He’s got to push himself.”

Bobo didn’t shy away from challenging Matthews to compete in every snap. It’s something the head coach asks out of all his players, and the running backs are no different. It could be argued, they’re even more important, in Bobo’s run-first offense.

And the head coach was clear when explaining to the young man where he must improve; specifically, in that pass-blocking.

“I was a little bit timid,” Matthews explained. “And they expect that out of freshmen, but that’s in the past.”

When the pressure is on and a coach challenges him, some will shrink. They’ll falter or disappear. Matthews is the exact opposite, ready and willing to rise to the occasion.

“They like to put me through a lot of adversity, they like to give me six, seven reps at a time to see how I respond to that,” he said. “That’s their challenge to me. Personally, I have to take it upon myself to give 100 percent in every rep.”

Undoubtedly, the California native loves the game of football as he comes off sincere when it comes to improving on the field.

While redshirt junior Dalyn Dawkins started out spring ball as the team’s No. 1 running back on the depth chart, Matthews is second and looking to flip those standings. Of course, he also understands there are three incoming freshman in fall and they’ll all be looking for playing time as well.

As Matthews knows, Bobo isn’t afraid to play freshmen and the head coach’s message to the running backs has basically been, “Don’t get comfortable.”

Matthews remains hungry, he remains “Never Satisfied” — a Bobo Era motto — and he looks to lead the Rams to many victories next season.

Certainly, with how much Bobo likes to run the rock, multiple backs will be needed. But, due to his size and strength, Matthews looks to be in line to be the running back leading the way for Colorado State. He’s strong, hard-nosed and sure-handed when it comes to carrying the rock; football fans can’t wait to see him rock again this fall.