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Coaches were happy with the improvement he made during the spring, capped by an interception and pass breakup in the Blue/White Spring Game ... Showed the benefit of a year's experience at a new position ... A part-time starter at strong safety last season ... Played free safety in the spring and has the savvy to play either spot ... Moved from quarterback to the secondary in the spring of `08 ... Until last season, had not played defensive back since his sophomore year in high school. Statistics 2008 (Redshirt Freshman): Appeared in all 13 games after switching from quarterback to strong safety during spring practice ... Made five starts during the season ... Recorded 24 tackles ... Intercepted a pass in the season-opening win at Louisville ... Had a career-high seven tackles against Arkansas. 2007 (Freshman): Redshirted ... Served as the No. 3 quarterback behind starter Andre' Woodson and backup Mike Hartline after the injury to Will Fidler. High School: Highly productive quarterback as both a passer and runner ... Completed 162 of 273 passes (59.3 percent) for 2,895 yards and 34 touchdowns during his senior season at Greenville (S.C.) HS, also rushing for 1,082 yards and 14 TDs ... State Player of the Year in Class AAA as a senior and was a finalist for "Mr. Football" honors ... First-team all-state as a junior and senior ... Completed 227 of 337 passes (67.4 percent) during his junior year, good for 3,643 yards and 44 touchdowns; also rushed for 813 yards and 14 TDs ... Accounted for 8,433 yards total offense and 106 touchdowns during his two seasons as the starting QB ... Team went to the state playoffs both seasons, with a best finish of 10-3 while advancing to the third round ... Also started as a defensive back his sophomore year before switching over to quarterback full-time his last two seasons ... Two-time conference most valuable player ... Played in the Shrine Bowl All-Star Game (North Carolina vs. South Carolina) following his senior season ... Completed 5-of-10 passes for 100 yards, including a 40-yard touchdown, in the all-star tilt ... Has been timed as fast as 4.55 in the 40-yard dash ... The No. 13 prospect in South Carolina by SuperPrep ... All-South Region by PrepStar ... Coached by Jim Sosebee ... "Matt is a total team player," Sosebee said. "He was the first guy in the weight room and on the practice field and the last guy off. He's a natural leader, his desire to win is incredible." ... Also a standout centerfielder in baseball, having earned all-state honors in that sport as a sophomore and junior ... Batted .420 with eight home runs his junior year ... Co-captain of the track team his senior year, competing in the 200- and 400-meter dashes, along with the discus throw ... Member of the Beta Club and National Honor Society ... Has been a volunteer with the Special Olympics ... Decided on Kentucky, also considered Nebraska and Wake Forest. Personal: Born in Greenville, S. C. ... Son of Matt and Mary Lentz ... A cousin, Bobby De Staubin, played for a national champion soccer team at Indiana ... Major is management. Community Cats: Participated in a Habitat for Humanity build (2007), the UK Children's Hospital Valentine's Day party (2008) and as a Salvation Army bellringer (2008). |
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