Bayron Matos
{{Short description|Dominican-American football player (born 2000)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Bayron Matos
| image =
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| current_team = Miami Dolphins
| number = 70
| position = Offensive tackle
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2000|12|8}}
| birth_place = Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 7
| weight_lb = 334
| high_school = Hamilton Heights Christian (Chattanooga, Tennessee)
| college = New Mexico (2019–2021)
South Florida (2021–2022)
| undraftedyear = 2024
| pastteams =
- Miami Dolphins ({{NFL Year|2024}}–present)*
| status = Active
| highlights =
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| pfr = MatoBa00
}}
Bayron Matos (born December 8, 2000){{Cite web|url=https://gousfbulls.com/sports/football/roster/bayron-matos/13536|publisher=South Florida Bulls|title=Bayron Matos}}{{Cite news|url=https://eldia.com.do/bayron-matos-el-dominicano-que-suena-con-llegar-a-la-nfl/|newspaper=El Día|title=Bayron Matos, el dominicano que sueña con llegar a la NFL|date=March 17, 2024|language=Spanish}} is a Dominican professional American football offensive tackle for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). After growing up in the Dominican Republic, he moved to the U.S. in high school and played basketball. He played college basketball for the New Mexico Lobos and South Florida Bulls from 2019–20 to 2021–22, before switching to football in 2022. He is a participant in the NFL's International Player Pathway Program (IPPP).
Early life
Matos was born in Los Mina, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.{{Cite news|url=https://us.as.com/nfl/bayron-matos-un-dominicano-que-suena-con-jugar-en-la-nfl-n/|newspaper=Diario AS|language=Spanish|title=Bayron Matos, un dominicano que sueña con jugar en la NFL|date=January 18, 2024|author=Guillermo Vazquez, Luis}} He grew up playing baseball, the country's most popular sport, and was considered a talented pitcher and outfielder, being able to throw at speeds in the low 90s.{{Cite web|url=https://www.americanfootballinternational.com/2024-nfl-international-player-pathway-spotlight-bayron-matos-ol-dominican-republic/|website=American Football International|author=Malchow, Alex|title=2024 NFL International Player Pathway spotlight: Bayron Matos, OL, Dominican Republic|date=January 22, 2024}} He liked basketball, however, and so he gave up baseball and moved to the United States at age 16 to pursue a professional basketball career.{{Cite web|url=https://247sports.com/college/mississippi-state/Article/Mississippi-State-basketball-commit-Bayron-Matos-turns-down-baseball-opportunities-for-basketball-133556549/|website=247Sports|title=Bayron Matos: From MLB Prospect to Bulldog Basketball Commit|date=July 10, 2019|author=Jones, Paul|url-access=subscription}}
Matos moved to Chattanooga, Tennessee, and began attending Hamilton Heights Christian Academy, but initially spoke no English, learning some phrases through Google Translate.{{Cite web|url=https://gousfbulls.com/news/2021/11/12/mens-basketball-bored-on-the-diamond-matos-found-his-calling-on-the-hardwood.aspx|publisher=South Florida Bulls|title=Bored on the baseball diamond, Matos found his calling on the hardwood|date=November 12, 2021|author=Johnston, Joey}} He noted that for a time, the only English he knew was "I'm hungry": he said, "If somebody asked how I was doing, I said, 'I'm hungry.'" He was a top player at the academy, being the state leader in double-doubles and rebounds while helping them win a state championship. He had 16 athletic scholarship offers coming out of high school and was ranked a three-star recruit, the third-best player in the state and the 16th-best nationally. He initially committed to play college basketball for the Mississippi State Bulldogs but later flipped to the New Mexico Lobos.
College career
Matos redshirted at New Mexico in the 2019–20 season and debuted in the 2020–21 season, in which he played 20 games and started 15, totaling an average of 6.0 points and 4.1 rebounds per game. He entered the NCAA transfer portal after the season.{{Cite news|url=https://www.abqjournal.com/news/local/lobo-notes-looking-to-move-on-matos-no-longer-a-part-of-workouts/article_4f275d09-c6d2-5708-95a7-7b3e63a5e5d3.html|newspaper=Albuquerque Journal|title=Lobo notes: Looking to move on, Matos no longer a part of workouts|author=Grammer, Geoff|date=April 14, 2021}} He ultimately transferred to the South Florida Bulls.{{Cite web|url=https://usf.rivals.com/news/south-florida-bulls-land-forward-transfer-bayron-matos|website=Rivals.com|title=South Florida Bulls land forward transfer Bayron Matos|date=April 27, 2021|author=Wood, Russ}} Matos appeared in 28 games, four as a starter, for the Bulls in the 2021–22 season, averaging 10.6 minutes per game while posting 1.5 points and 2.7 rebounds per game.
Matos joined the South Florida Bulls football team as a walk-on in 2022.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fox13news.com/news/usfs-matos-trades-basketball-court-for-gridiron-glory|publisher=WTVT|title=USF's Matos trades basketball court for gridiron glory|author=Barie, Sean|date=August 24, 2022}} Initially a defensive lineman and special teams player, he was later moved to offensive tackle.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nfl.com/mundo/noticias/nacidos-para-jugar-bayron-matos-el-atleta-dominicano-que-da-pasos-solidos-rumbo-a-la-nfl|publisher=National Football League|title=Nacidos para jugar: Bayron Matos, el atleta dominicano que da pasos sólidos rumbo a la NFL |author=López Yes, Ricardo|date=March 21, 2024}} He briefly played on special teams and defensive end during the 2022 season.{{cite web | url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5450359/2024/04/27/bayron-matos-travis-clayton-nfl-draft-international-pathway-mailata/ | title=Could one of these international NFL Draft prospects be the next Jordan Mailata? }}
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 7 1/8
| weight = 313
| dash = 4.88
| ten split = 1.77
| twenty split = 2.89
| shuttle = 4.77
| cone drill = 7.64
| vertical = 28.0
| broad ft = 9
| broad in = 5
| bench = 17
| arm span = 35 1/4
| hand span = 10 7/8
| note = All values from NFL IPPP Pro Day{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1059945&DraftYear=2024 |title=Bayron Matos College Football Profile |website=DraftScout.com |access-date=August 17, 2024}}
}}
In January 2024, Matos was announced as one of 16 players selected for the National Football League's International Player Pathway Program (IPPP), designed to give opportunities in the league to foreign players.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-announces-international-pathway-program-class-of-2024|publisher=National Football League|title=NFL announces International Pathway Program Class of 2024 |date=January 18, 2024}} He trained at IMG Academy and has been praised by NFL analyst Scott Pioli for his skills and size.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/three-players-to-watch-at-international-player-pathway-program-workout|publisher=National Football League|title=Three prospects to watch at International Player Pathway program workout |author=Pioli, Scott|date=March 18, 2024}} Despite being {{convert|6|ft|7|in}} and {{convert|313|lb|kg}}, he ran a 4.88 40-yard dash at his pro day, which would have been the best among all linemen at the NFL Scouting Combine. He was eligible to be selected at the 2024 NFL draft and was considered a potential late-round pick. He ultimately was not selected in the draft, but afterwards was signed by the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent.{{Cite news|url=https://www.tampabay.com/sports/bulls/2024/04/27/bayron-matos-dolphins-undrafted-free-agent-usf-jeff-scott-nfl-draft/|newspaper=Sun Sentinel|title=Dolphins reach agreements with undrafted rookies after draft, including prospect who never played a college snap |date=April 27, 2024|author=Furones, David}} He was waived on August 27, and re-signed to the practice squad.{{cite web|title=Miami Dolphins Make Roster Moves|url=https://www.miamidolphins.com/news/miami-dolphins-make-roster-moves-8-27-24|website=MiamiDolphins.com|date=August 27, 2024}}{{cite web|title=Miami Dolphins Make Roster Moves|url=https://www.miamidolphins.com/news/miami-dolphins-make-roster-moves-8-28-24|website=MiamiDolphins.com|date=August 28, 2024}} He signed a reserve/future contract on January 7, 2025.{{cite web|title=Miami Dolphins Sign 12 Players to Futures Contracts|url=https://www.miamidolphins.com/news/miami-dolphins-sign-12-players-to-futures-contracts-25|website=MiamiDolphins.com|date=January 7, 2025}}
Personal life
Matos is the son of Jose and Kirsten Matos. He has one sibling, Ismael.{{cite web |title=Bayron Matos - Football |url=https://gousfbulls.com/sports/football/roster/bayron-matos/13536 |website=USF Athletics |access-date=8 June 2024 |language=en}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.miamidolphins.com/team/players-roster/bayron-matos/ Miami Dolphins bio]
{{Miami Dolphins roster navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Matos, Bayron}}
Category:American football offensive tackles
Category:Dominican Republic players of American football
Category:Sportspeople from Santo Domingo
Category:New Mexico Lobos men's basketball players
Category:South Florida Bulls men's basketball players
Category:South Florida Bulls football players
Category:Miami Dolphins players
Category:Dominican Republic emigrants to the United States
Category:American people of Dominican Republic descent
Category:Hispanic and Latino American players of American football