McCallie’s Brock works his way into LSU opportunity
Matthew Brock’s football days are going to continue, and that will be with a perennial top 10 NCAA program.
Brock had a historical tie to McCallie football already — his dad Matthew and his uncle Mark having played quarterback for legendary coach Pete Potter and his cousins Ramsey, Andrew and John having played for Ralph Potter, Pete’s son, who has become a legend in his own right.
If continuing a tradition of playing for a Potter wasn’t enough to excite Matthew Brock, wearing football jersey No. 17 for McCallie provided any extra incentive he would need. He used both, coupled with talent and hard work, to earn an invitation to join LSU.
“It meant more to me than anything in my athletic career,” Brock said of receiving the jersey No. 17. “To a McCallie football player it’s the ultimate honor to wear that number.”
Fourteen years ago, Ralph Potter, another former McCallie quarterback, and assistant coach Chris Richardson singled out a player to wear No. 17.
“It’s something we started in 2000,” Potter recalled. “It’s about a former player, Jason Green, who was killed in a car wreck while in college.”
Green wore No. 7 when he played for Potter and Richardson but donned No. 17 at Campbellsville.
“He was everything you’d want a high school football player to be. We wanted to keep his memory alive,” Potter said. “We started giving that number to the guy that best characterized his style. So many people have now worn that number that it’s taken a life of its own.” Brock took No. 17 as his own. “It’s a burden of responsibility as well as an honor because we expect so much out of that guy, and Matthew didn’t disappoint,” Potter said. “He’s just a pure football player and he loves the game. He’s a lot like Jason.”
Upon completion of his high school career as a fullback/Hback at McCallie, Brock knew he wanted his football career to continue. He had FCS offers but wanted to play on the big stage, so he pursued big-time offenses that still used a fullback, sending queries to LSU, Arkansas and Wisconsin.
LSU was the first school he contacted and the first to respond. Tigers assistant athletic director Sam Nader asked for video and a recommendation from Potter.
“He showed it to the coaches and they liked what they saw and invited me to come down and compete,” the 6- foot- 1, 230-pounder related. “He said they get thousands of kids that send film trying to get a (preferred walk-on spot) but that I fit their scheme.
“My first goal is to get on the field and then work my way into competing for a chance to play.”
He will bide his time, finishing his final baseball season and then beginning summer workouts before reporting to LSU.
“He’ll do great. He might surprise everybody by becoming a guy they count on in games. He’s strong, he’s willing to work hard and he has that workhorse mentality,” Potter said. “Worstcase scenario, he’s part of a great program. Best case, he gets on the field and plays.”
Contact Ward Gossett at wgossett@timesfreepress.com or 423-886-4765. Follow him at Twitter.com/wardgossett.