John Matocha

John Matocha
Personal information
Born: (2000-11-02) November 2, 2000 (age 24)
Magnolia, Texas, U.S.
Height:5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:180 lb (82 kg)
Career information
High school:Magnolia West
(Magnolia, Texas)
College:Colorado School of Mines (2019–2023)
Position:Quarterback
Undrafted:2024
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Stats at CFL.ca

John Matocha (born November 2, 2000) is an American professional football quarterback. He played college football for the Colorado School of Mines Orediggers.[1][2] He was a member of the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL).

Early life

Matocha grew up in Magnolia, Texas and attended Magnolia West High School.[3] As a senior, he completed 66 percent of his passes for 3,441 yards and 38 touchdowns and also rushed for 868 yards and 15 touchdowns.[4]

College career

Matocha became the Colorado Mines Orediggers' starting quarterback two games into his freshman season. He was named first-team All-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) and the conference's Offensive Freshman of the Year after passing for 2,825 yards with 29 touchdown passes and five interceptions while also rushing for 598 yards and 11 touchdowns.[5] Matocha's sophomore season was canceled due to COVID-19.[6]

In 2021, Matocha passed for 3,105 yards and 38 touchdowns and was named the RMAC Offensive Player of the Year.[7] Matocha was also named a first-team Division II football Academic All-American by the College Sports Information Directors of America, since renamed College Sports Communicators (CSC).[8] He repeated as the RMAC Offensive Player of the Year and won the Harlon Hill Trophy as the best player in NCAA Division II in 2022.[9][10] Matocha finished the season with 4,778 passing yards and 52 touchdown passes.[11] After the season, Matocha was named the Division II football Academic All-American of the Year by CSC,[12] and was later named the Academic All-American of the Year for all Division II sports for the 2022–23 school year.[13]

On November 11, 2023, in the Orediggers' season finale against Fort Lewis College, Matocha scored four total touchdowns in an 82–0 win, raising his career total to 181, and making him the all-time total touchdowns leader in all of college football.[14]

Statistics

Season Games Passing Rushing
GP Record Comp Att Pct Yards Avg TD Int Rate Att Yards Avg TD
Colorado Mines Orediggers
2019 12 11–1 252 342 73.7 2,825 8.3 29 5 168.1 145 598 4.1 11
2020 DNP
2021 14 12–2 260 382 68.1 3,105 8.1 38 8 165.0 154 492 3.2 7
2022 16 13–3 348 506 68.8 4,778 9.4 52 8 178.8 133 443 3.3 5
2023 15 14–1 333 471 70.7 4,298 9.1 43 7 174.5 106 449 4.2 5
Career 57 50−7 1,193 1,701 70.1 15,006 8.8 162 28 172.4 538 1,982 3.7 28

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump
5 ft 11+1⁄8 in
(1.81 m) 		192 lb
(87 kg) 		29+7⁄8 in
(0.76 m) 		8+7⁄8 in
(0.23 m)		 4.88 s 1.69 s 2.75 s 4.38 s 7.27 s 31.0 in
(0.79 m)
All values from Pro Day[15]

Matocha went undrafted in the 2024 NFL draft, but was invited to rookie minicamp with the Denver Broncos.[16]

On May 27, 2024, it was announced that Matocha had signed with the Toronto Argonauts.[17] However, he was part of the final training camp cuts on June 1, 2024.[18]

References

  1. ^ Justice, Richard (December 15, 2023). "The Too-Small Texas Quarterback Who Broke Big Records". Texas Monthly.
  2. ^ Solomon, Jerome (November 17, 2023). "Solomon: Magnolia West ex John Matocha has no TD peer in college football annals". The Courier.
  3. ^ "FOOTBALL: Matocha leading efficient Magnolia West offense". Houston Chronicle. October 21, 2017. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
  4. ^ "Former Magnolia West star Matocha leads Colorado School of Mines into title game". The Courier. December 16, 2022. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
  5. ^ "Magnolia West's Matocha piles up accolades at Colorado School of Mines". The Courier. July 10, 2020. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
  6. ^ Tobey, Jacob (September 10, 2021). "Led by QB John Matocha, Mines football looking to reach the mountaintop". 9News.com. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
  7. ^ "Montgomery County alums set for college bowl games". Houston Chronicle. December 16, 2021.
  8. ^ "2021 CoSIDA Academic All-America® NCAA Division II Football Team Announced" (Press release). College Sports Information Directors of America. December 17, 2021. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  9. ^ "Colorado School of Mines quarterback John Matocha wins Harlon Hill Award, becoming third Oredigger to do so". The Denver Post. December 16, 2022. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
  10. ^ "John Matocha's magnificent play pushes Colorado School of Mines football to second straight Division II semifinal". The Denver Post. December 9, 2022.
  11. ^ Olson, Eric (August 18, 2023). "Pick Six: Colorado Mines star QB John Matocha returns as one of the top small college players". APNews.com. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  12. ^ "Levis, Matocha, Madigan and Cole Highlight 2022 Academic All-America® Football Teams" (Press release). College Sports Communicators. December 20, 2022. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
  13. ^ "2022-23 Top 4 chosen for Overall Academic All-America® of the Year honors in NCAA and NAIA divisions" (Press release). College Sports Communicators. July 26, 2023. Retrieved August 2, 2023.
  14. ^ "Mines Clinches RMAC Title As Matocha Makes History". Colorado School of Mines Athletics. November 11, 2023.
  15. ^ "2024 NFL Draft Scout John Matocha College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  16. ^ "Broncos Invite Local QB to Rookie Minicamp". Mile High Huddle. April 29, 2024. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  17. ^ "Argos ink QB John Matocha". Toronto Argonauts. May 27, 2024.
  18. ^ "Cutdown tracker: Teams make their final roster moves". Canadian Football League. Retrieved June 2, 2024.