Scott Matlock has turned some heads ahead of Year 2 in the NFL.
The Bolts 2023 sixth-round pick continues to progress in his second offseason, and recently earned some praise from Chargers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh.
Harbaugh mentioned Matlock, among others in the defensive line room, multiple times during his media availabilities this offseason.
The Chargers Head Coach then went into detail on Matlock when asked what has stood out about the second-year player.
"He's just all about his business, all about the work, all about the team," Harbaugh said about Matlock during his media availability last Thursday." A lot of what he does, like a lot of leaders, it's not about what they say, it's about what they do. What you do speaks so loudly that you can't even hear what you're saying."
Matlock has been among those in the defensive line group that has impressed throughout the offseason program — but not just in practice or meeting rooms.
Harbaugh recalled a story where the second-year player's leadership was on full display.
During a conditioning test, Matlock easily passed it but felt as though the ground wasn't up to par due to the recent rainy weather.
So, the defensive lineman took it upon himself to help out some of his teammates that were going after.
"He smashed the conditioning test and then he felt the ground was a little too soft because it had rained," Harbaugh said. "We were in the late morning.
"I watched him go and pat down the surface so [the ground] was harder for the next group that was running," Harbaugh added. "Making the surface harder so they can get their plant and turn."
Matlock played in 12 games during his rookie season, seeing both rotational snaps and special teams reps. He would finish the season 266 defensive and 94 special teams snaps.
But perhaps some of the most important reps of the year came in the final two games of the season where he surpassed 30 snaps in each.
The defensive lineman was able to get some more film on tape and a lot of game reps heading into his first full offseason, all of which helped up to this point.
Now in Year 2, Matlock has made his presence felt not only in the defensive line room, but across the team as well.
"Just everything that he does, every way that he goes from meeting to the training environment, to the practices," Harbaugh said. "There every day. I mean, the power of there every day — TED — is so powerful.
"There's no question that you get better at football by being there every day," Harbaugh continued. "Nobody has to wonder, 'Is Scott Matlock or somebody that's there every day, are they going to be there?'
"Just look out in the seat and there they are ready to go, sitting on a spring ready to get out to practice," Harbaugh added. "Sometimes already taped, dressed and ready to roll. Not only do I see that, but everybody sees it."
