GTK: Matthew Anderson overcame heartbreak to fulfill his dreams

Matthew Anderson is Nebraska's lone signee from Louisiana for this cycle. He played his senior season with a heavy heart because his mother passed away February 11, 2018 from metastatic breast cancer which spread to her bones and throughout her body.

Anderson's mother and father were both MPs in the U.S. Army, and they were stationed in Germany when he was one month old until the age of seven. His mother was honored as the Soldier of the Year several times in her army career.

Andersonwent on to have a successful senior campaign and sign a NLI with Nebraska.

"Matthew Anderson from Louisiana is the frame we’re looking for," NU head coach Scott Frost said on the early signing day. "I think he’s got a huge upside once we get him in here and get him with Zach (Duval)."

Below is another in our series of "Getting to know you" features which we will be running on all the members of Nebraska's 2019 recruiting class.

Matthew Anderson

Position: Offensive tackle

Leesville, Louisiana

Current size: 6-foot-6 & 1/2, 255-pounds

Rankings: Anderson is rated a 5.6 three-star by Rivals, as well as the No. 24 recruit in the state of Louisiana. He was named to the USA Today 2018 ALL-USA Louisiana Football Team first-team, as well as first-team All-Southwest Louisiana, and first-team All-Cenla for the second year in a row.

Recent statistics: As a senior, Anderson helped Leesville to a 13-1 record and to the semifinals of Louisiana's Class 4A state playoffs for the first time in more than 20 years. He also helped Leesville to a 10-2 record as a junior.

Other schools offering scholarships: Kansas State, Louisiana Tech, Louisiana-Lafayette, Louisiana-Monroe, Texas State, Western Kentucky, Nichols, McNeese State, Southern University and North Dakota State.

What do you do in your spare time?

“I really like to hang out with the guys, with my homies. Also, hang out with my family. Lifting weights and working out with my team is probably a big thing that I do in my spare time. Playing PS4 with some of the other [Nebraska] commits and stuff like that."

What food do you like the best?

“Probably pizza or tacos. Well, I mean, I could also go for a good gumbo or some German food. On my pizza, I will get hamburger, bacon, ham, but no pineapple."

What is your favorite television show?

“I don't really watch too much TV, but right now, there is this really girlie show my girlfriend is watching called New Girl, which is the only show I've been watching. I only watch TV with her."

Do you have a favorite movie?

“I do, it's Hercules. The Disney version. Growing up, and before I got into sports, I had a speech impediment. When I was little, my head was the same size as it is now. So, I was just kind of an outcast for a while and Hercules really gave me hope and everything. I think I kind of got some inspiration from it."

What type of music do you listen to and who is your favorite musical artist?

“Probably rap. Just because it kind of gets me in the mindset for football. I like NBA YoungBoy."

Who has provided great inspiration to you in your life?

"Definitely my mom. She always had a positive thing to say no matter what she was doing. She was the best people-pleaser and people-person you would ever meet. She thought of others every time before she thought of herself. She was the best parent, an amazing parent. I don't know, it was just her attitude of 'I can do this' and 'you can do this.' She showed such strength in spite of everything she went through and I never saw her show any signs of defeat. No matter what the disease was doing to her, my mom was always strong. If she played football, I think she would have been a mean pass-rusher. I don't know, she taught me how to joke about things and I get a lot of my personality from my mother. I'm 100% a mama's boy through and through, and that's probably my favorite thing about me. She's just my guardian angel now, you know what I mean?"

What person(s) from history or alive you would like to sit down and have dinner with?

“I probably go with Jesus. I mean, like, just to understand the reason behind the things that He did. It's really hard to have unquestioning faith some of the time, so probably my biggest thing would be to talk to Jesus and understand the reasoning behind a lot of things. You know?"

Do you have a nickname?

“Well, I used to go by 'Big Matt,' but seeing the other offensive linemen that Nebraska is getting, like Bryce Benhart and Michael Lynn, I might have to change my name to 'Medium Matt.' But it's probably 'Mateo,' which is what my mom and sisters call me."

What is something very few people know about you?

“I feel like having a good sense of humor is important. I feel like anything can be taken as a joke and there is something humorous in everything. I think that's a huge part of getting over things, being able to joke about it. But, also, my ability in the chess realm. I'm pretty good at chess. I hold an undefeated record right now at my school. I started the chess club at my school and I am the chess captain. I take a lot of pride in that kind of stuff."

If football wasn’t an option, what would your dream career be?

"Probably being a military police officer or business owner."

Do you have a major picked out yet?

“I'm leaning towards business, but I haven't made a final decision on that yet."

Have you met all the academic requirements to enroll at Nebraska?

“Yes sir."

Who is your favorite football player of all-time?

“Probably Joe Thomas or Larry Allen. One of those kinds of guys. I hate how little credit offensive linemen get for things because I think it's one of the most important positions. I just think there's no football without those great, great offensive linemen. It's always about quarterbacks or running backs, and you don't really hurt too much about the other guys. That's a big thing with me. I like the guys who aren't appreciated much and I just feel the offensive linemen, wherever you go, are underappreciated. So, probably more so Joe Thomas because he played my position. He's a 'war daddy' and he's played a lot in the NFL. He just retired and everything, and I also love his loyalty. He was loyal to the Cleveland Browns, even though they were the Cleveland Browns."

Who is the best football player you've personally played against in a game?

“Oh... that's a good question! I guess I should say the defensive end from New Orleans Easton in the semifinal game this year -- Jacob Parker. I'm only saying this because he was the best-ranked player I faced. I mean, I pancaked him and he didn't have any sacks, and he got Defensive Player of the Year. He was amazing and I think he had three sacks in the state title game. He threw away that tackle like he was nothing. I may have faced other players who were better. I faced this big old white boy from up north, Hunter Dubroc. It was the craziest thing. I just got back from my knee surgery and everything, and I see this kid walk up to the line and he's a big dude! He had me by about 50 pounds and I wasn't expecting anything, but I tell you, I had him in pass protection all night. But in run blocking, and that's what I take the most pride in, it was a hard-fought battle."

Do you have a pre-game ritual?

“Before the game, I always eat a big meal about 2 hours before, and our team takes a cat nap for about an hour and a half. I get both ankles wrapped, even though I don't really need it, just in case. And then, before the game, I like to take a knee on the sidelines and pray to my mom. I just take the time to ask God to help me bring honor to my parents."

Did you play other sports growing up or in high school?

"Growing up, I played almost every sport because my parents wanted me to try a lot of things. So, I played T-ball, basketball, and a lot of soccer. Soccer was my main sport. I played that for five years at least, and I was the biggest kid out there. I didn't have much fancy footwork, but I could sure knock a lot of kids down. I played basketball in high school and I played tennis. I'm also on the tennis team."

What is the one thing you most need to work on to play at the next level?

“Definitely my strength. I think my school didn't focus on the weight room enough, so I would do it on my own to get more nasty. So, definitely strength-wise, I think if anyone can help me it will be Coach Zach Duval."

How often do you work out and what is your routine?

“Well, actually, my girlfriend's dad is in the special forces, so I am able to go on to Fort Polk, which is near me, and have the privilege of working out with him. So, he puts a workout together for me almost every day. It's really good. Every day I kind of do different things. For my football workout, I will do shuttle drills, squats and [hang] cleans. I am mostly doing squats and cleans right now because that's what Nebraska wants me to concentrate on."

What did you know about the Nebraska football program before they offered and started recruiting you?

"I didn't know much about any college football programs. I didn't watch much college football growing up because I didn't think it would be an option for me. I didn't think I was going to be the person who would have the option to play on the next level, but when I started playing it became an option. I always knew that Nebraska was the Cornhuskers, which is kind of crazy being from Louisiana. I knew that Alabama's mascot was the elephant and Louisiana's was the Tigers, but I didn't know too much about sports. So, the fact that I knew Nebraska was the Cornhuskers is because I have heard people talk about Nebraska before.

"Then I did some research and found out about Coach (Scott) Frost, and I got really excited when I got their offer. I saw my dad cry with my first offer and he told me about how proud my mom would be, and then when I got the offer from Coach (Greg) Austin, my dad had to leave the room because he was so proud of me. That was probably one of the best feelings -- just making your parents proud. I think any kid can attest to that. It's one of the best feelings in the world to see his face. It was just a huge blessing. I didn't realize how big their stadium was until I looked it up. That was by far like, 'Wow, I could play there!' It was pretty crazy!"

Do you have any family ties to the Husker football program or the state of Nebraska?

"I don't. I do have a huge Husker fan who told me she's going to be my adoptive mom. She's an amazing lady. I think that speaks volumes just about the amazing fans at Nebraska. It was a huge deal for me that such a big fan base can be so welcoming like a family would be."

What were the major determining factors in your picking Nebraska and signing with the Huskers?

“I didn't think I would find that family atmosphere in a college because it's mostly business. At Nebraska, it's more than business. It's like you're part of their family, so I respect that. That's probably what drew me most to Nebraska -- to that family connection with the coaches and the players. And this class are like my best friends already and I haven't even really lived with them yet."

Did the Nebraska coaches do anything unique when they were recruiting you that other colleges didn't?

“I don't know, just every coach texted me and, even if I had another offer, they never dissed any other school. Like, I went to one school and they really wanted me, and we were watching football games in their big team meeting room or whatever on ESPN, and Nebraska got beat. I think it might have been a blowout and all their coaches were just looking at me and being really disrespectful towards Nebraska. I hated that. I don't like stuff that's not classy. Nebraska never did that once, and they were pretty much the only school that didn't."

Which Nebraska coach do you feel especially close to?

“Coach Austin and Coach (Ryan) Held 100 percent. And Coach Frost because I talk to him regularly, even though Coach Frost is a busy guy. I like the way Coach Austin jokes and Coach Held is a great guy. They all have great character. I think that's what most stands out about them. They recruit not only just great athletes but great people. I'm just really blessed to be a part of this class."

What was the best feature of your official visit to Nebraska?

“Probably getting to see my family see how big Nebraska is and how nice it is. The pictures really don't do Memorial Stadium any justice. I mean, it was just really nice to see my entire family treated like that. That entire trip was because of my athletic ability, which is mind-boggling. It was amazing to think that I could give my family a fun weekend like that, and they treated my family like family. It was amazing!"

Did Nebraska’s weather factor into your recruitment?

"Not really. I mean, I have family up north in North Dakota - in Fargo, North Dakota - so I miss the cold. I love the cold. I remember visiting my grandma, and growing up in Germany I remember my neighbors building igloos. I remember building snow fortresses in just a tee shirt at my grandma's house and how much fun it was. When you're really enjoying yourself, I don't think the cold is as bad as people say it is. I'm really excited to get up there because, when you play in the cold, it increases the level of hurt. Power-driving someone in the frozen tundra sounds awesome!"

Did you make friends with any current players at Nebraska or incoming freshmen during the process?

“Definitely me and Michael Lynn are close. Yes sir, we will be roommates at Nebraska. Me and Luke McCaffery are very close. Walk-on commit Riley Moses and I are pretty close, and so are me and Bryce (Benhart). And then, Mosai Newsom. Me and Mike are probably the closest because we have the exact same sense of humor. We really like hanging out."

What did you think of Nebraska's season?

"I think, if you cut the season in half, it was two completely different teams. The second half, I think you could see what Coach Frost is trying to implement. Once Coach Frost really gets these guys to buy in, as well as get that taste of winning, after that they were addicted to winning. Also, Coach Frost didn't have a full recruiting class yet. He didn't have the time to be able to do that and he was facing a lot of things that made it more of a challenge. I also want to make sure to say that I have nothing but respect for all of the current Nebraska players. I feel that sometimes it's unfair when people say it's going to be our recruiting class that turns things around because those guys have worked their butts off. They've done so much and they are all phenomenal athletes. So, I'm excited to get in there and get it done with them. You know what I mean? Without them, I don't think we're going to get much done as freshmen. I'm just excited!"

What's the funniest or craziest recruiting pitch you got from a college coach?

“Oh okay, so one guy after my first unofficial visit to Nebraska, and kind of the reason I committed so soon, but I was talking to the Southern Miss coaches and I guess they weren't really keeping up with my recruiting. But, I had an offer from Louisiana Tech and all of the schools in their division - about seven offers at that point - and they were talking to me like I didn't have any offers. Which was confusing to me because I did have some offers. I told them about Nebraska and they told me, 'Do you really think that you're big enough to play in the Big Ten?' My dad is always next to me when I'm talking to coaches on the speakerphone, so he looked at me and started shaking his head and told me to 'hang up the phone,' and I was as respectful as possible. That next morning, I committed to Nebraska because I hate when people think that. I mean, why would you recruit me if you didn't think I could play at that level? I guess I just didn't understand that. I thought that was completely uncalled for, but whatever."

What was your favorite moment during the recruiting process?

“Probably my official visit and my unofficial visit to the University of Nebraska. Also, just having my name out there and my parents' name and my family's name. Just because I take a lot of pride in the fact that I can lift up my family. I think, probably, the best thing possible is that it brings glory to my family. I couldn't be where I'm at if it wasn't for all of my sisters, as well as my mom and my dad. They made me and sculpted me into the athlete that I am."

What was the worst moment during the recruiting process?

“Definitely being so close to accomplishing all of these things when my mom was alive. Literally, when my mom passed, it was like a month later when I went to the All-American camp and got all of these offers and stuff. So, the worst part was not being able to see her face and to talk to her about it. I know she's at peace, which is comforting at least."

Which schools tried to get in the picture with you and wanted you to visit after you committed to Nebraska?

"I had a camp offer to LSU and they really wanted me there. I had a camp offer to Mississippi State, and then, Ole Miss was asking me if I was interested in them. So did Arkansas -- they asked me if I wanted to visit. Same with Arizona, and then Michigan State wanted me up there for a game."

Did any schools negatively recruit against Nebraska? If so, what did they say?

“There were a couple who would say, 'Are you sure you don't want to go to the SEC instead of the Big Ten?' Like, the SEC is everything down here, so I feel people kind of skip over me sometimes since I committed to Nebraska and not a big SEC team. I think that's preposterous and I can't wait to get with Nebraska and win a national championship."

What school would you have chosen if you hadn't decided in favor of Nebraska?

“Probably Kansas State or Louisiana Tech. Kansas State because of my father's connections to North Dakota State. Coach (Chris) Klieman and everyone are good people."

What position will you be playing at Nebraska?

“Right now, I'm pretty sure left tackle, but it could be right tackle. When I put on some more weight, I could probably also play guard a little bit. But, for right now, offensive tackle."

Are you expecting to redshirt your first year at Nebraska?

“Hopefully not. Hopefully, I will be able to get in there and make a contribution. If I had to guess, I would probably say 60% I would redshirt and 40% I would not. It just depends on where I'm at physically after summer conditioning."

What number would you like to wear at Nebraska?

“I just talked to Coach Frost about this and I can confirm that I will be wearing No. 72."

What will you bring to Nebraska as far as a strong point?

“I want to say, overall, my attitude. One thing I have is the will to not lose to the guy in front of me. I'm going to hurt the guy in front of me more than he will hurt me. As long as I do that, I will feel that I've accomplished something. I'm pretty good with my mindset when it comes to football. I think, hopefully, that will rub off on some of the guys. I'm also really loyal, so I will be able to rub off on guys in a positive way."

What are your goals for your first year in college?

“My goals are probably to hit 290 [pounds], and to be able to squat and bench at least an average amount as everybody else. And probably, to play in at least four games because that's what you're allowed to do as freshmen. It would also be pretty cool to see the team go to a bowl game. That would be pretty fun!"

Are you planning to attend the Huskers' Red-White spring game?

“Yes sir, I will."

What would you like to say to the Nebraska fans?

“Just that I really appreciate everything that you guys have done for me. I think that I'm going to be a pretty solid offensive tackle and I just want to prove my loyalty to Nebraska. I told a lot of colleges that I wasn't interested, but I thanked them for their offers, So, I appreciate the Nebraska fans for having faith in me even though I wasn't a five-star or a four-star. They made me feel like I was that type of athlete and I can't thank them enough for that."

QB Luke McCaffrey

ILB Nick Henrich

WR/RB Wandale Robinson

RB/WR Rahmir Johnson

OLB Garrett Nelson