The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Matt Melton: The ultimate teammate
10.25.2006 | Football
In most dictionaries, the word "teammate" is defined simply as "a fellow member of a team." That's simple enough, but it can also be a word that embodies much more.
On the topic of dictionaries, you also often hear people describe someone by saying their picture appears next to a word in the dictionary. That is where UT defensive back Matt Melton comes in. If someone were pictured next to the word "teammate," it just might be Melton.
The senior from Tyler recently made the first starts of his career in the Longhorns' games against Rice and Baylor, and up until that point, he had done whatever he could to help his team win at whatever position he was assigned, which in itself might not be a bad definition of the word "teammate."
"I'd like to play on defense, but however I can help the team is my goal," Melton said. "As long as we're winning games, then whatever I can do to help win, that's the big picture and what I want to accomplish."
To say that Melton made his first starts is certainly not to say it is the first time he has played or contributed. In fact, Melton has played in 41 career games and has been one of the most valuable special teams players over the past two years, while making an impact on defense when given the opportunity.
"I think he's the ultimate team player," said co-defensive coordinator Duane Akina. "He's one you can constantly talk to your other players about. He waited, he hung in there, spent his time, and when Michael (Griffin) or Marcus (Griffin) couldn't go, he stepped in there without a lot of physical reps. We still asked him to go in there and perform at the same level, and it was just nice to see he was able to get that done."
"He's such a smart guy," said OT Justin Blalock, who arrived at Texas in the same class as Melton and also predicted he be a CEO some day. "He knows just as much as the guys that are on the field all the time. He can watch and critique them just like he's the coach. He works so hard that whenever the opportunity does arise, he's fully prepared to step in without missing a beat."
The reason he is able to is preparation. Without knowing whether or not his number might be called, Melton has put in his time in the film room, the weight room and the practice field making sure he is ready if it is, something that began years ago following a conversation with former UT strength coach Tim Cross.
"He told me that, no matter what, always be prepared," Melton said. "You never know when your chance is going to come. I've taken that to heart over the last couple of years. I've always made sure I was prepared, week in and week out, just in case I got the chance to get in there if somebody went down or they needed me to help the team."
"He's very talented, just like everyone here, and he hasn't complained," added Blalock, "He's just put his head down and worked that much harder, and now he's getting the chance on the field and taking advantage of it."
That is exactly what he did against Baylor, as he helped shift the momentum to the Longhorns in the second quarter with a 34-yard interception return for a TD that gave Texas a 21-10 lead after trailing 10-0.
"My parents have always taught me to be humble, take what God gives you and just run with it," Melton said. "The big thing about me is I try to be a very humble person and patient. When given an opportunity, I try to take the best out of it. I think that's been the best thing about me - the fact that I've been able to relax and play my role, especially when I get a chance to go out and help the team win."
Who better to learn teamwork from than his father, Frank, who is the Mayor of Jackson, Miss., just one of the avenues Frank has found to be able to help his community. Prior to that, he also owned the largest television station in Jackson and would speak on-air about education and crime, in addition to getting in the community and helping first-hand through various service organizations.
"He had a YMCA program in the summer, and he helped put a lot of kids through college," Matt described. "As I was growing up, he had a lot of kids from Jackson whose families didn't have anything for Christmas, so he would bring them home for Christmas and Thanksgiving and let them feel how it was to have a loving atmosphere. I think that really showed how big of a person my dad is. His influence has come from showing that, no matter what, you can always find a way to help other people.
"He always says, 'Do something good with your life, then give back and help others.' I think that's something I've taken to heart, and my mom always told me the same thing. That's a lesson they've taught me as I've gotten older."
His mother, Ellen, is a pediatrician in Tyler, and someone Akina found to be quite popular there during his many recruiting trips.
"I think she's delivered every child in Tyler," Akina laughed. "Everybody you talk to says, 'Oh yeah, Dr. Melton.' (The Meltons) have really touched a lot of people back there in east Texas, in Tyler especially."
Her reach has even gone as far as the Longhorn locker room, as Melton says UT linebacker Nic Redwine was one of her patients as a child.
"Matt has had a lot in his life because of his mother being a doctor, and his father, and yet, you'd never know it," Akina said. "He has a big heart and he's open to everybody. He's well-respected by this football team, which I always think is a great measuring stick - where someone stands inside that locker room."
In fact, Akina points out that the successes of Melton's mother and father have only served as inspiration and have taught him the value of education and hard work.
"Nothing's been given to Matt since he's been here," Akina stated. "He's worked hard for everything he's gotten, and he's one of our hardest working players now. He's very diligent on the field, off the field, in the offseason, studying, making sure he's prepared mentally; unknowing if he's going to take a snap, but he's always prepared. I think that's another reason why he's really well respected by the team. They know they can trust him."
His mother trusts him also, but that doesn't stop her from calling the fifth-year senior to make sure everything is going well with his classes, which his parents have instilled to always come first.
"She just wants to make sure I'm focused," Melton said. "My goal here is to get my degree and then I'm going to try to go to graduate school when I get done playing football here."
The influence of his family certainly does not stop with his parents, as evidenced by his plans for graduate school. Melton wants to earn a master's degree in sports management and make a career in sports marketing, following in the footsteps of his aunt, Carolyn Redd, who owns a sports marketing and consulting firm.
Redd's clients have ranged from Philadelphia Eagles QB Donovan McNabb to former NFL running backs Eddie George and Thurman Thomas to former WNBA star Cynthia Cooper.
The focus of her company is to promote professional athletes by securing endorsements, supporting local charities or special interests and getting athletes connected within a community.
"I'm really interested in that," Melton described. "That's where my interest of that came from."
As far as playing sports, it was his grandfather, Elmer Redd, who introduced him to basketball and eventually football. Redd was an All-America running back at Prairie View A&M and former running backs coach and offensive coordinator at the University of Houston in the 70s and 80s. That path has brought him to the Longhorns where he has become the teammate that he is.
"I think it's wonderful he's gotten these opportunities in his fifth year playing defense, because he's been a great contributor throughout his career here on special teams," Akina said of Melton's career. "It's just nice for us to see him perform at such a high level as a defensive player, too. We all know special teams are important, and they're really important to him, but this is really what he came here for, to be a starting defensive back at The University of Texas, and that's the level where he is right now."