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Washington State Football: 3 things we learned from Boise State win

By Matty Breisch

BOULDER, CO - NOVEMBER 19: Wide receiver John Thompson
BOULDER, CO - NOVEMBER 19: Wide receiver John Thompson /
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PULLMAN, WA – NOVEMBER 07: Mike Bercovici #2 of the Arizona State Sun Devils is sacked by Hercules Mata’afa #50 of the Washington State Cougars in the second half at Martin Stadium on November 7, 2015 in Pullman, Washington. Washington State defeated Arizona State 38-24. (Photo by William Mancebo/Getty Images)
PULLMAN, WA – NOVEMBER 07: Mike Bercovici #2 of the Arizona State Sun Devils is sacked by Hercules Mata’afa #50 of the Washington State Cougars in the second half at Martin Stadium on November 7, 2015 in Pullman, Washington. Washington State defeated Arizona State 38-24. (Photo by William Mancebo/Getty Images) /

3. Hercules Mata’afu is an absolute beast

After starting his career as an edge rusher for the Washington State Cougars in 2015, Hercules Mata’afa was moved to defensive tackle prior to the 2017 season to help strengthen the team’s interior pass rush.

And boy did he ever.

Even at an incredibly light 250-pounds, Mata’afa has excelled as a first-time defensive tackle, both against the pass and against the run. He possesses an otherworldly burst that would be impressive for a defensive end, but is absolutely unheard of for a defensive tackle. And in his first two games on the inside, Mata’afa has absolutely feasted on opposing quarterbacks.

In his first two years in Pullman, Mata’afa racked up 10.5 sacks for the Washington Cougars, and that trend doesn’t look like it will end anytime soon, even with a new position.

Only two games into the 2017 season, Mata’afa has already recorded three sacks at defensive tackle, and the season isn’t even a month old.

Throughout Washington State’s Week 2 game against Boise State, Mata’afa heard his name called early and often, including on a strip sack midway through the first quarter that knocked Boise State starting quarterback Brett Rypien out of the game. Against Boise State’s power-run game, Mata’afa held his own and absolutely destroyed the Broncos’ interior offensive linemen, who are far less athletic than the offensive tackles he’s used to facing off against.

Mata’afa is not only a terror for players in the offensive backfield, but also possesses the athleticism needed for defensive coordinator Alex Grinch to feel comfortable to drop his junior lineman into zone coverage to spy on athletic quarterbacks like Boise State’s Montell Cozart.

As the season progresses, only time will tell how Mata’afa’s game will continue to progress in his new position, but if Week 2 of the season is of any indication, he’s is a true game-changer, regardless of position, and should expect to hear his name called early in the 2018 NFL Draft.

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