CAREER BESTS:
- Longest field goal: 58 yards (at Northern Iowa, Oct. 18, 2025)
2025 | Senior
Served as the primary kickoff and long-range field goal kicker, playing in all 15 games his senior season … had 74 of the team’s 75 kickoffs on the season with an average of 61.5 yards per kick … 19 went for touchbacks to just one kick out of bounds …
hit a school-record 58-yard field goal just before the half at Northern Iowa (Oct. 18) … it marked the second-longest FG in MVFC history … was 2-for-4 in field goals on the season … made his second-career field goal as a Coyote on the road at No. 1 North Dakota State (Sept. 27) from 51 yards … all three of his made field goals in his USD career came from 50+ yards.
2024 | Junior
Played in all 14 games for the Yotes, handling most of the kickoff duties, plus longer-range field goals … hit a career-long 52-yard field goal in the season-opener against Northern State (Aug. 29), also marking his first-career collegiate field goal … was 1-for-3 on field goal attempts on the season … had one PAT attempt and converted it … took 90 of the team’s 91 kickoffs with an average of 60.3 yards per kick and 13 touchbacks.
2023 | Sophomore
One of 29 Coyotes who competed in all 13 games … served as the Coyotes’ kickoff man all season … had 16 touchbacks on 63 kickoffs … averaged 57.8 yards per kick … average starting position was the opponent’s 24-yard line … made the final extra point in a 35-6 win against Lamar in non-conference play (9/16)
2022-23 | Freshman & Redshirt Freshman (LSU)
Played in the Citrus Bowl against Purdue.
Prep
Longest field goal in school history (53 yards)... most attempted and made PATs in a season... Hit three 50+ yard field goals... Received an all-State selection sophomore year, and all-State honorable mention his junior and senior years... Received All North County Conference Kicker of the Year from 2017-2019... Received the highest academic award titled a Cardinal Scholar.
Personal
Has earned his bachelor’s degree in general studies … is enrolled in USD's MBA program ... Son of John and Dee Mata.
