| Matt Melton |
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Safety
6-0 · 210
Flint, Texas (Tyler-John Tyler)
#18
Talented and experienced fifth-year defensive back ... appeared in 47 career games and recorded 43 tackles ... played in all 13 games, starting three, at safety and on special teams in 2006 ... posted 10 tackles, an INT return for a TD, a fumble recovery and a blocked punt ... appeared in all 13 games as the backup at strong safety and on special teams in 2005 ... posted 16 tackles ... saw significant action at both free safety and on special teams in 2004 ... appeared in eight games, missing four with injuries, and made four tackles ... played in 12 games on special teams, including eight at free safety, and totaled 13 tackles, three PBU, one fumble recovery and one blocked punt as a redshirt freshman in 2003 ... gained valuable experience working in the secondary while redshirting in 2002.
SENIOR (2006)
Played in all 13 games, starting three, at safety and on special teams ... posted 10 tackles, an INT return for a TD, a fumble recovery and a blocked punt ... recorded a tackle at Rice ... notched three tackles versus Iowa State ... started against Baylor and recorded a 34-yard INT return for a TD, a fumble recovery and two tackles ... posted a tackle against No. 17 Nebraska, Texas Tech and Texas A&M ... blocked a punt against Oklahoma State.
JUNIOR (2005)
Appeared in all 13 games as the backup at strong safety and on special teams ... part of a defense that ranked 10th nationally in total defense (302.9 ypg), eighth in scoring defense (16.4 ppg), fourth in pass efficiency defense (96.7) and eighth in passing defense (172.0 ypg) ... recorded 16 tackles, including six on special teams ... matched his career-high with three tackles in a season-opening win over La.-Lafayette ... added one tackle versus Rice ... tallied two tackles at Missouri ... posted one tackle against Texas Tech ... added two tackles at Baylor ... equaled his career-high three tackles versus Kansas ... posted one tackle at Texas A&M ... tallied two tackles in the Big 12 Championship ... added a special teams tackle in Texas' 41-38 victory over USC for the National Championship.
SOPHOMORE (2004)
Appeared in eight games on defense and special teams ... spent most of the season as the top backup at free safety ... totaled four special teams tackles with two each coming against Baylor and Texas Tech.
REDSHIRT FRESHMAN (2003)
Appeared in 13 games on special teams, including eight at free safety, and totaled 13 tackles, three PBUs, one fumble recovery and one blocked punt ... posted two tackles in the season opener against New Mexico State ... recorded one tackle on defense and one on special teams at Rice ... registered one tackle and blocked a punt at Baylor ... had two tackles and returned a fumble 48 yards for a touchdown at No. 21 Oklahoma State ... recorded a season-high three tackles versus Texas Tech ... redshirted in 2002.
HIGH SCHOOL
Coached by Allen Wilson at John Tyler High ... a three-year letterwinner and two-year starter at safety ... also saw action at wide receiver ... a first-team All-East Texas, all-region and all-district selection as a senior ... registered 60 tackles, 14 PBUs, three interceptions and two fumble recoveries that year ... earned honorable mention All-East Texas honors as a junior ... also a second-team all-region and all-district choice ... helped lead team to a 12-4 record and a runner-up finish in the 2000 Texas 5A Division II state playoffs (vs. Katy) ... recorded 92 tackles, five INTs (one returned for a TD) and five fumble recoveries (one TD) in 2000 ... added seven receptions for 89 yards and rushed for a pair of scores that year ... posted 40 stops and an interception as a sophomore ... also ran track (hurdles/400-meter relay) ... placed third in the district in both the 110 and 300-meter hurdles as a junior.
PERSONAL
Born 9/5/83 in Tyler, Texas ... full name is Matthew Ryan Melton ... grandfather, Elmer Redd, was an All-America running back at Prairie View A&M and the offensive coordinator at the University of Houston (1970-86) ... member of UT's Athletics Director's Honor Roll ... majoring in kinesiology ... active member in UT's community service program ... an honorable mention academic all-state honoree as a prepster ... a member of National Honor Society and International Baccalaureate Program ... very active in community service programs ... an active volunteer for Meals on Wheels and the YMCA ... has helped coordinate three Special Olympics events ... lists reading, working with computers and working out as hobbies.
CAREER STATISTICS
Defense
Year G/GS TT (Solo) Sacks TFL INT (Yds.-TD) PBU FC FR-TD High
2006 13/3 10 (5) 0 (0) 0 (0) 1 (34-1) 0 0 1-0 3/2x
2005 13/0 16 (6) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0-0) 0 0 0-0 3/2x
2004 8/0 4 (2) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0-0) 0 0 0-0 2/2x
2003 13/0 13 (6) 0 (0) 1 (-1) 0 (0-0) 3 0 1-1 3/TT
2002 Redshirt
Career 47/3 43 (19) 0 (0) 1 (-1) 1 (34-1) 3 0 2-1 3/5x
Special Teams
Year G TT (Solo) FC FR PBLK KBLK
2006 13 2 (1) 0 0 1 0
2005 13 6 (2) 0 0 0 0
2004 8 4 (2) 0 0 0 0
2003 13 4 (2) 0 0 0 0
Career 47 16 (7) 0 0 1 0
