The Cal Poly football team already got a commitment from one Division I transfer this offseason. CLICK HERE to read about Mark Rodgers, a running back from West Virginia who is ready to play for the Mustangs.
Now comes word that another transfer from a Bowl Championship Series conference is making his way to San Luis Obispo.
Matt Singletary, the son of NFL head coach and Hall of Fame player Mike Singletary, told me today that he has decided to leave his dad’s alma mater Baylor — where Matt played sparingly at a defensive line a redshirt sophomore this past season — to play at Cal Poly in the fall.
Read the Singletary story HERE or check out Wednesday’s Tribune for an in-depth piece on Singletary and his decision to transfer. I only wanted to get some background on the position changes he’s had in the past couple years out here on the blog and get your response to these new transfers.
Singletary came to Baylor as a 6-3, 210-pounder looking to become a lineman. He said before his senior football season, he was actually more interested in lacrosse, but when Mike Singletary left the Baltimore Ravens with Mike Nolan to come to the San Francisco 49ers, Matt had to give up lacrosse.
Matt started out as a defensive end at Baylor, but after redshirting, he was moved to a position coaches called receiver. It seemed to Singletary that it was more of a blocking fullback position.
“It was more of a blocking-slash-little-bit-receiving tight end,” Singletary said. “I was thinking more tight end. They were thinking more fullback. It had a couple routes, and I was thinking, ‘OK, that would be fun.’ ”
But the blocking aspect wasn’t as appealing to Singletary. I mean, he’s the son of one of the best middle linebackers of all time. He had to have been born with a pretty ingrained defensive mentality.
So he moved back to defensive end this past season and only played a few games. He finished up at Baylor with two career tackles, so there isn’t a lot to go on when trying to determine how good he can be at the Football Championship Subdivision level.
Except this: The 210 pounds is now 250, and that’s a frame that can make an impact.
Dominique Johnson, a 6-4 receiver who transferred from UCLA last offseason, made an immediate impact leading the team in receptions (38), yards (668) and touchdowns (6) despite missing time with a shoulder separation last season.
Johnson will be the transfer that others are measured against this season. Singletary is anticipating a home at defensive end at Cal Poly, where he definitely wants to be an impact player.
“At Poly, I feel like I want 100 percent to be the best player, if not on the defense, than on the team,” Singletary said. “That’s something I expect of myself.”
What do you think of the transfers? We’ll find out about the rest of the Mustangs’ recruits at their signing day news conference Wednesday afternoon. Check out my twitter page, SanLuisObispo.com and the print edition of The Tribune for more coverage.
Related posts:
1 comment
bob
February 5, 2010 at 3:42 pm (UTC -7) Link to this comment
This is GOOD news. Maybe HE can get dad to advise the coaching staff. It’s too late for this years recruiting class but maybe the elder Singletary could bring some attitude to the team thru his son.