Matter joins another crowded position Matter joins another crowded position (August 19, 2005)

Former starting quarterback looks to be on the receiving end this fall

by Nathan Kurz

Last spring, quietly and without much fanfare, Stanford senior Kyle Matter switched from quarterback to wide receiver, moving from one crowded position to another.

In February of 2004, Matter was knocked over during an off-season workout, dislocated his right throwing shoulder and didn't throw a pass last season, prompting the move.

The problem is Matter moved from a crowded backfield, which includes Trent Edwards and Menlo-Atherton High grad T.C. Ostrander, to an even more crowded position outside.

It would take a string of serious injuries to Stanford's receiving corps for Matter to see serious action this season.

At best, he's sixth on the depth chart at the position behind probable impact players Evan Moore, Mark Bradford and Gerren Crochet as well as backups Justin McCullum and Marcus McCutcheon.

"I'm still trying to learn," he said. "Watching guys in front of me has helped a lot. Spring was my intro to the position, so it was good to have the summer to work on things."

Matter says he's still not at 100 percent and that his shoulder still gets sore if he tries to throw repeatedly. "The shoulder's getting better," he said. "In the spring, it was sore from contact, but I've done a lot of physical therapy between then and now, so it should be strong."

Plus, he's had to adjust to a vastly different practice regimen. "Practice as a quarterback is mostly mental; you've just got to direct people, make reads and stuff," he said. "For the receiver, it's much more physical."

Matter was a highly sought-after quarterback from Hart High, the factory in Southern California that's produced Kyle Boller and Matt Moore, among other collegiate signal callers.

He got his chance to play in 2002, when starting quarterback Chris Lewis was forced to sit out a game because of a minor rules infraction. Lewis was also sidelined for part of the season with injuries. Matter started six games, including the last five, and completed 116-of-214 passes for 1,219 yards and eight touchdowns in becoming the first freshman quarterback -- true or redshirt -- to lead the team in passing since Steve Stenstrom in 1991.

But he was eclipsed on the depth chart first by Edwards and then by Ostrander. He only played in three games in 2003.

His primary role has become as the holder on field goals and PATs. He still found a way to contribute last year by converting an 11-yard run on a fake field goal in Stanford's near upset of USC.

As far as playing behind center, Matter has resigned himself to watch Edwards and Ostrander duel it out for the starting job. "I like the way both of them are playing," he said. "There will be times where I won't see who threw a pass but it'll be a good ball, and it could have been either of them. They had to learn all the new line calls and terminology. But they've had a while to get into it. They're both so much better than they were in the spring."

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