Yetur Gross-Matos

Yetur Akkub Gross-Matos (born February 26, 1998) is an American football defensive end for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Penn State and was drafted by the Panthers in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

Yetur Gross-Matos
Gross-Matos with the Panthers in 2020
No. 97 – Carolina Panthers
Position:Defensive end
Personal information
Born: (1998-02-26) February 26, 1998
Spotsylvania, Virginia
Height:6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight:265 lb (120 kg)
Career information
High school:Chancellor (Spotsylvania)
College:Penn State
NFL Draft:2020 / Round: 2 / Pick: 38
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of Week 15, 2020
Tackles:21
Sacks:1.5
Pass deflections:0
Forced fumbles:1
Fumble recoveries:0
Player stats at NFL.com

Early life and high school career

When Gross-Matos was two years old, his biological father died after a boating accident while trying to rescue Yetur from drowning. When he was 10 his brother died from a lightning strike while they were playing baseball.[1][2][3]

Gross-Matos attended Chancellor High School in Spotsylvania County, Virginia.[4] During his high school career, he had 37 sacks. He committed to Pennsylvania State University to play college football.[5]

College career

As a true freshman in 2017, Gross-Matos played in all 13 games and had 17 tackles and 1.5 sacks. As a sophomore in 2018, he started all 13 games and had 54 tackles and eight sacks.[6][7] After a junior year with 14 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks, Gross-Matos decided to forgo his senior year and declared for the 2020 NFL Draft.[8]

Statistics
Season Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
Solo Asst Tot TFL Yds Sack Yds Int PD FF FR
2017 13 5 12 17 2 8 1.5 7 0 0 0 0
2018 13 36 18 54 20 88 8 58 0 1 2 1
2019 12 24 16 40 15 85 9.5 76 0 1 0 1
Total 38 65 46 111 37 181 19 141 0 2 2 2

Professional career

Gross-Matos was selected by the Carolina Panthers with the 38th overall pick in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft.[9] He was the second defensive end taken behind Chase Young.

In Week 4 against the Arizona Cardinals, Gross-Matos recorded his first career sack, a strip sack on Kyler Murray which was recovered by the Panthers, during the 31–21 win.[10] He suffered an ankle injury in Week 5 and was placed on injured reserve on October 16, 2020.[11] He was activated on November 7, 2020, prior to Week 9.[12] He was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list by the team on November 30, 2020,[13] and activated on December 10.[14]

References
  1. "How two tragedies shaped top NFL prospect Yetur Gross-Matos". ESPN.com. June 14, 2019.
  2. Penn State’s Yetur Gross-Matos playing inspired football for late brother
  3. "PSU's Gross-Matos has endured tragedy | News, Sports, Jobs - Williamsport Sun-Gazette".
  4. LANCE-STAR, TAFT COGHILL JR THE FREE. "Gross-Matos selected by Carolina Panthers on Day 2 of NFL draft". Fredericksburg.com. Retrieved 2020-04-26.
  5. Coghill Jr., Taft. "Chancellor's Gross-Matos commits to Penn State". Fredericksburg.com.
  6. Coghill Jr., Taft. "Gross-Matos hungry for more after breakout sophomore season at Penn State". Fredericksburg.com.
  7. "Penn State's Yetur Gross-Matos returns from suspension motivated, 'more mature'". York Dispatch.
  8. Fitz, Sean (December 3, 2019). "Gross-Matos to forgo final season at PSU, will play in bowl". 247sports.com. Retrieved December 17, 2019.
  9. Simmons, Myles (April 24, 2020). "Panthers select DE Yetur Gross-Matos in second round". Panthers.com. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
  10. "Arizona Cardinals at Carolina Panthers - October 4th, 2020". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
  11. Simmons, Myles (October 16, 2020). "Panthers place Tyler Larsen on reserve/COVID-19 list, Yetur Gross-Matos on reserve/injured list". Panthers.com.
  12. Simmons, Myles (November 7, 2020). "Panthers activate Christian McCaffrey, Yetur Gross-Matos". Panthers.com.
  13. "Panthers place Yetur Gross-Matos on reserve/COVID-19 list". Panthers.com. November 30, 2020. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  14. Weaver, Tim (December 10, 2020). "Panthers activate rookie DE Yetur Gross-Matos from reserve/COVID-19 list". USAToday.com. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
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