294-Pound 'Gentle Giant' Loved by All Except O-Lines
9/14/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 14, 2016
By Steve Kornacki
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Matthew Godin never gets too far away from Ryan Glasgow, Mason Cole and Wilton Speight.
Godin, who had a career-high five tackles for the University of Michigan football team in Saturday's (Sept. 10) victory over UCF, rooms with them and three other teammates in a house "right down the street" from Schembechler Hall.
He also lines up right next to fellow defensive tackle Glasgow in games and practices, and is directly across from quarterback Speight and center Cole in scrimmages and in certain practice settings.
They take the college bonding experience to another level.
"It's a wide variety of personalities," Godin said of his roomies. "I wouldn't say anyone's a slob, but Ryan usually isn't a fan of picking up. I'm not good at that either, and so I'll call myself out. We all pitch in to take care of the place, though. It's also great for our parents on game days. They can park right there and walk to the games and hang out."
Joining them in the house are receiver Drake Harris, fullback Bobby Henderson and former player Chris Fox, now a student video assistant.
Speight, named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week after throwing for 312 yards and four touchdowns against UCF, walked to Monday's (Sept. 12) press conference at the Crisler Center with Godin.
"He's a great, funny dude," Speight said of Godin. "I moved into their house right before (pre-season) camp in August, and he and I have been really good friends since my first winter here. He took me under his wing, and showed me the way around campus. It's been fun living with them and I can't wait for the rest of the year."
-- Harbaugh on Godin
What makes Godin funny?
"He's just a big, giant teddy bear," Speight said with a smile. "He's like a gentle giant. He gets real aggressive and angry on the field. But then, 10 minutes after the game, he's back to his playful self. And when he laughs, you wouldn't think he was a 6-7, 300-pound dude. You'd think he was a little teenage boy or whatever. So, he's a funny guy and a good friend."
Godin, a fifth-year senior from Novi (Michigan) Catholic Central, usually comes off the bench in the rotation Wolverines defensive line coach Greg Mattison employs. However, Godin got to start against UCF with Bryan Mone injured, and made the most of it.
Wolverines coach Jim Harbaugh said of Godin:
"He is a steady, high-performing guy. Tough guy. Always in the lineup. Really, really impressed with him. He is almost playing at the level of Ryan Glasgow, who as a defensive lineman played his best game this past week, and probably one of the better games I've ever seen a defensive lineman played. It was that good in terms of how he played the position and graded out. And then Godin is a very similar player. Not quite to the level of where Glasgow is playing right now. But it's great having both of them.
"Glasgow, (Chris) Wormley and Jabrill (Peppers) were our top performers on defense ... and Godin was up there. He graded high. Good man. Great guy to be around, too."
Harbaugh beamed while finishing his comments about Godin, who made a play that jumped off the videotape late in the second quarter. He stunted to the edge, fought off a block, and used a quick burst of speed to tackle Knights tailback Jawon Hamilton near the sideline for no gain.
"I did a little stunt and I'd come out to the outside for contain," said Godin, "and I saw the (offensive) tackle. He kind of ran out there a little bit. I thought, 'Something's up,' and I kind of just ran with him, saw the back and ran. It worked out."
He displayed impressive speed for a lineman who worked out to put on 10 pounds in the off-season, and is listed at 6-foot-6, 294 pounds. He also flashed good instincts in making the tackle before Hamilton could turn the corner.
Godin started four games last season, and occupies the center of the line with his roomie, Glasgow.
"It's fun to start with all of those guys," said Godin. "I mean, we've been together for so long on the D-line."
Several of them have NFL potential -- including true freshman end Rashan Gary. The eight linemen have enough talent to rotate at four positions.
"It's pretty unusual," said Godin. "Everyone stays fresh, and it's definitely a blessing."
Godin detailed Michigan defensive line coach Mattison's impact on him:
"It's been a lot of things: technique, overall football smarts, everything. I mean, he's pretty much taught 75-percent of the game to me. I came in here thinking that I knew some things, but he really opened up my eyes. He's taught me to pay attention to detail, footwork, little things, and staying low. That's a big thing because I'm a taller guy. So, it's tough to stay low and get the leverage."
Godin played for Tom Mach at Catholic Central -- the same powerhouse school that produced Wolverines two-time All-America defensive end Mark Messner (1985-88), who played with Harbaugh.
"It's always been positive whenever I've talked to him," Godin said of Messner. "He's one of the greatest to come out of Catholic Central or ever play D-line here. To have him as a role model is great."
Messner, now a market vice president for Konica Minolta Business Solutions in Tampa, Florida, has pursued a career along the lines of what appeals to Godin, an American culture and history major.
"I've always loved history," said Godin, "but I actually think I'm going to go into marketing or sales after football."
Godin said he's likely to pursue his MBA in graduate school rather than teaching.
His favorite topic is U.S. history, and he enjoys focusing on conflicts, particularly World War I and World War II.
"Both of my grandfathers are veterans of World War II," said Godin. "All the scheming and the schematics of war are always interesting."
Alexander Godin, 93, and Ernie Tomczak, 95, both still live in the Flint area, where Godin was raised in Fenton. What's it like talking history with them?
"It's amazing," said Godin. "My grandpa Ernie, he saw so much, including the Depression."
His father, Kevin, graduated from Michigan, and his sister, Jackie, and brother, Jonathan, did, too.
"My brother went to medical school here," said Godin, "and my sister went undergrad and to law school here. My dad was a business major here."
He noted "baby photos" of him wearing "Michigan gear" that his father purchased, and going to games in the stadium where he now plays.
The Wolverines have turned things around as Godin heads down the stretch in his career, going 10-3 last season and starting out 2-0 this year with a No. 4 national ranking.
"It's been amazing," said Godin. "It's been the time of my life."
