Matt Colburn
{{Short description|American football player (born 1997)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Matt Colburn
| image = Matt Colburn (53752129843) (cropped).jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = Colburn with the Michigan Panthers in 2024
| current_team = Michigan Panthers
| number = 26
| position = Running back
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1997|7|27}}
| birth_place = Irmo, South Carolina, U.S.
| height_ft = 5
| height_in = 10
| weight_lbs = 201
| high_school = Dutch Fork (SC)
| college = Wake Forest
| undraftedyear = 2019
| pastteams =
- Los Angeles Rams ({{NFL Year|2019}})*
- New York Guardians (2020)
- TSL Blues (2020)
- Toronto Argonauts ({{CFL Year|2021}})*
- Philadelphia Stars ({{USFL Year|2022}})
- Jacksonville Jaguars ({{NFL Year|2022}})*
- Philadelphia Stars ({{USFL Year|2023}})
- Michigan Panthers ({{UFL Year|2024}}–present)
| status = Active
| highlights =
- USFL Sportsman of the Year (2022)
| statleague = USFL
| statseason = 2022
| statweek = 9
| statlabel1 = Games played
| statvalue1 = 9
| statlabel2 = Rush attempts
| statvalue2 = 92
| statlabel3 = Rushing yards
| statvalue3 = 418
| statlabel4 = Rushing touchdowns
| statvalue4 = 7
| pfr = ColbMa00
}}
Matthew Colburn II (born July 27, 1997) is an American professional football running back for the Michigan Panthers of the United Football League (UFL). He played college football at Wake Forest.
Early life and education
Colburn was born on July 27, 1997, and grew up in Irmo, South Carolina.{{Cite web|url=https://godeacs.com/sports/football/roster/matt-colburn-ii/950|website=Wake Forest Demon Deacons|title=Matt Colburn II}} He attended Dutch Fork High School and set schools records as a junior with 2,448 rushing yards and 40 touchdowns. As a senior, he ran for 1,705 yards and scored 24 touchdowns, being named the 2014 SC "Mr. Football."
Colburn initially committed to Louisville but was told shortly before signing day that the school had no room for him.{{Cite web|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2358892-what-its-like-to-have-bobby-petrino-pull-your-offer-48-hours-before-signing-day|website=Bleacher Report|title=What It's Like to Have Bobby Petrino Pull Your Offer 48 Hours Before Signing Day|date=February 9, 2015|author=Couch, Greg}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/news/former-louisville-commit-matt-colburn-111500231.html|website=Yahoo!|title=Former Louisville commit Matt Colburn signs with Wake Forest|author=Spiewak, Stephen|date=December 2, 2015}} He then signed with Wake Forest, declining offers from Marshall, Georgia Southern and Furman. In his debut against Elon, Colburn ran for 38 yards on 12 carries and scored his first career touchdown. He led the team with 51 yards against Florida State.
As a sophomore, Colburn led the team with 626 rushing yards. In a win against Delaware, he made a career-high 24 carries for 118 yards and scored a touchdown. He ran for 103 yards the following week, becoming the first player with back-to-back 100-yard rushing games at Wake Forest since 2011. In his junior year, Colburn placed first in the school with 904 yards rushing. He ran for 237 yards against Syracuse on November 11. He was named to the ESPN All-ACC Bowl team at the end of the season.
Colburn ran for 759 yards and scored five touchdowns as a senior, finishing his career sixth in team history with 2,528 yards rushing. Against Louisville, who had pulled his scholarship in 2015, Colburn ran for a career-high 243 yards and scored three touchdowns.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sportingnews.com/us/ncaa-football/news/wake-forests-matt-colburn-trolls-louisville-cardinals-pulled-his-scholarshi/1h9masujdxtq71f914w8ojzh1a|newspaper=Sporting News|title=Wake Forest's Matt Colburn trolls Louisville after Cardinals pulled his scholarship|date=October 28, 2018|author=Heck, Jordan}}
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 5
| height in = 7 3/4
| weight = 204
| dash = 4.47
| ten split = 1.60
| twenty split = 2.53
| shuttle = 4.27
| cone drill = 6.72
| vertical = 31.0
| broad ft = 9
| broad in = 5
| bench = 25
| arm span = 27 7/8
| hand span = 8 3/4
| note = All values from Pro Day{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1002902&DraftYear=2019 |title=2019 NFL Draft Scout Matt Colburn II College Football Profile |website=DraftScout.com |access-date=May 23, 2024}}
}}
=Los Angeles Rams=
After going unselected in the 2019 NFL draft, Colburn was signed by the Los Angeles Rams as an undrafted free agent.{{Cite news|url=https://journalnow.com/sports/college/wfu/all-wake-forest-rb-matt-colburn-ii-wanted-was-a-shot-he-got-it-with/article_c4daabbd-f622-568c-ab2c-de80bef7e1e9.html|newspaper=Winston-Salem Journal|title=All Wake Forest RB Matt Colburn II wanted was a shot. He got it with the Los Angeles Rams|author=O'Neill, Connor|date=May 3, 2019|url-access=subscription}} He was waived at the final roster cuts on August 30.{{Cite web|url=https://www.footballdb.com/players/matt-colburn-colbuma01/transactions|website=The Football Database|title=Matt Colburn Transactions}}
=New York Guardians=
In 2020, Colburn was signed by the New York Guardians of the XFL.{{Cite web|url=https://xflboard.com/news/matthew-colburn-is-ready-to-contribute-1000-percent-to-the-xfl-guardians/|website=XFL Board|title=Matthew Colburn is ready to contribute 1000 percent to the XFL Guardians|author=Nelson, Mark|date=January 5, 2020}} He played in just two games for the Guardians, making one rush attempt for six yards.{{Cite web|url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/playerc/colb01300.html|website=Pro Football Archives|title=Matt Colburn Stats}}
=TSL Blues=
Later in the year, he played for the Blues of The Spring League, gaining almost 200 yards in week two and in week three.{{Cite web|url=https://xflnewsroom.com/column/standouts-from-the-spring-league-we-could-see-in-xfl/|website=XFL News Room|title=Standouts From The Spring League We Could See In XFL|author=Larsen, James|date=December 4, 2020}}
=Toronto Argonauts=
On February 15, {{CFL Year|2021}}, Colburn was signed by the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL).{{Cite web|url=https://www.tsn.ca/toronto-argos-sign-shawn-oakman-nick-tiano-damion-jeanpiere-matt-colburn-ii-reshard-cliett-1.1593393|website=TSN|title=Argos add six Americans to roster|date=February 15, 2021}} He was released on July 20.
=Philadelphia Stars (first stint)=
Colburn was selected in the 28th round of the 2022 USFL draft by the Philadelphia Stars.{{Cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com/stories/usfl/usfl-draft-2022-every-pick|website=Fox Sports|title=USFL Draft 2022: Every pick of every round for every team|date=March 10, 2022}} In his first game for the Stars, he played as a backup and made nine rush attempts for 14 yards.{{Cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com/usfl/philadelphia-stars-team-stats?category=rushing&sort=ru_yds&season=2022&seasonType=reg&sortOrder=desc|website=Fox Sports|title=2022 Philadelphia Stars Rushing Stats & Leaders}} He was placed on injured reserve on June 29, 2022.{{cite tweet |user=USFLStars |title=Roster Updates |number=1542335195595939840 |date=June 29, 2022 |access-date=July 1, 2022}} Colburn was given the 2022 USFL Sportsman of the Year Award, awarded to the one who shows the "best-exhibited excellence on the field and leadership to the community off the field."{{Cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com/stories/usfl/usfl-awards-2022-stars-matt-colburn-is-sportsman-of-the-year|website=Fox Sports|title=USFL Awards 2022: Stars' Matt Colburn is Sportsman of the Year|date=June 24, 2022}}
=Jacksonville Jaguars=
On August 7, 2022, Colburn was signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars.{{Cite web|url=https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/07/jaguars-sign-matt-colburn-waive-nathan-cottrell/amp/|website=NBCSports.com|title=Jaguars sign Matt Colburn, waive Nathan Cottrell|access-date=2022-08-07|archive-date=2022-08-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220807193057/https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/07/jaguars-sign-matt-colburn-waive-nathan-cottrell/amp/|url-status=dead}} He was waived on August 15.{{cite web|title=Roster Moves: Jaguars waive five from the roster|url=https://www.jaguars.com/news/roster-moves-jaguars-waive-five-from-the-roster|website=Jaguars.com|date=August 15, 2022}}
=Philadelphia Stars (second stint)=
Colburn re-signed with the Philadelphia Stars on November 9, 2022.{{cite tweet |user=USFLStars |title=Free Agent Signings |number=1590392240232620032 |date=November 9, 2022 |access-date=November 9, 2022}} He was placed on injured reserve on June 6, 2023.{{cite tweet |user=USFLStars |title=Transferred Player to Injured Reserve List |number=1666248611242422272 |date=June 6, 2023 |access-date=June 6, 2023}} The Stars folded when the XFL and USFL merged to create the United Football League (UFL).{{Cite web |last=Seifert |first=Kevin |date=January 1, 2024 |title=Newly formed United Football League sets 8 markets, tabs coaches |url=https://www.espn.com/xfl/story/_/id/39222541/newly-formed-united-football-league-sets-8-markets-tabs-coaches |access-date=January 15, 2024 |website=ESPN.com}}
=Michigan Panthers=
Colburn was selected by the Michigan Panthers during the 2024 UFL dispersal draft on January 5, 2024.{{cite web |title=2024 UFL Team Rosters |url=https://www.theufl.com/rosters |website=TheUFL.com |access-date=January 19, 2024}} He re-signed with the team on August 13, 2024.{{cite tweet |user=UFL_PR |title=The #UFL has announced the following transactions |number=1823463268582629829 |date=August 13, 2024 |access-date=August 14, 2024}} On April 10, 2025, Colburn was placed on injured reserve.{{cite web |last1=Larsen |first1=James |title=Michigan Panthers Lose RB Matt Colburn, Re-Sign Toa Taua |url=https://pfnewsroom.com/news/michigan-panthers-lose-rb-matt-colburn-re-sign-toa-taua/ |website=PFnewsroom.com |access-date=11 April 2025}} He was activated on May 12.{{cite news |last=Larsen |first=James |title=Michigan Panthers Return Matt Colburn, Lose Frank Ginda |url=https://pfnewsroom.com/news/michigan-panthers-return-matt-colburn-lose-frank-ginda/ |website=PFNewsroom.com |date=May 13, 2025 |access-date=May 13, 2025}}
=Statistics=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! rowspan="2" | Year ! rowspan="2" | Team ! colspan="2" | Games ! colspan="5" | Rushing ! colspan="5" | Receiving ! colspan="5" | Return Yards ! colspan="2" | Fumbles | ||||||||||||||||||
| GP | GS | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Fum | Lost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | PHI
| 10 || 4 || 102 || 457 || 4.5 || 51 || 8 || 18 || 150 || 8.3 || 21 || 1 || 3 || 53 || 17.7 || 29 || 0 || 2 || 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2023 | PHI
| 1 || 1 || 5 || 30 || 6.0 || 18 || 0 || 2 || 14 || 7.0 || 9 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| colspan="2" | Career || 11 || 5 || 107 || 487 || 4.6 || 51 || 8 || 20 || 164 || 8.2 || 21 || 2 || 3 || 53 || 17.7 || 29 || 0 || 2 || 2 |
References
{{Reflist}}
Further reading
- {{Cite news|url=https://www.albanyherald.com/sports/college/acc/wake_forest/matt-colburn-ii-after-missing-last-two-games-excited-to/article_9f97fbaf-851d-5cda-825b-d4305c40888b.html|newspaper=The Albany Herald|title=Matt Colburn II, after missing last two games, excited to retake the field with Deacons in bowl |date=November 28, 2018|author=O'Neill, Connor}}
- {{Cite news|url=https://www.thecolumbiastar.com/articles/colburn-prepares-for-one-last-game-at-wake-forest/|newspaper=The Columbia Star|title=Colburn prepares for one last game at Wake Forest |date=December 21, 2018|author=Cruse, Josh}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Colburn, Matt}}
Category:American football running backs
Category:Players of American football from South Carolina
Category:Wake Forest Demon Deacons football players
Category:Los Angeles Rams players
Category:New York Guardians players
Category:The Spring League players
Category:Toronto Argonauts players
Category:Philadelphia Stars (2022) players