Singletary setting his sights on the NFL
The name Singletary is synonymous with any conversation involving the greatest defensive players ever to suit up in the NFL. Former Chicago Bear Mike Singletary may be the most recognizable linebacker ever the play professional football.
This Draft Season, there is another Singletary trying to make his way into the NFL.
Cal-Poly defensive end Matt Singletary, son of the hall-of-fame Singletary, is trying to follow in his father’s footsteps. However, there is no pressure coming from back home.
“There was never any pressure like that from him,” said Singletary. “He was always like ‘I had my career and I want you to have yours.’ He was there 100 percent if I ever needed help with anything. He was always the first one in my corner.”
Singletary stands in the CES weight room in Atlanta
But injury struck early on in the season.
“In the third game, I broke my hand. I was freaked out,” Singletary explained. “I prayed about it and if I wasn’t supposed to play, I’d be done. But if there was a way, I would love to play. So I didn’t have to get surgery and they casted it up with a club.”
Singletary was not sidelined, but not having the use of his hand hindered him as a defensive end.
“Everything is about grabbing on the d-line,” he said. “You use your hands a lot so it was a lot more difficult.”
The adversity was unexpected, but Singletary took in in stride with a sense of maturity.
“At first, you want to be like ‘oh my gosh’ and think about all the negative. But I got to play. I feel like I progressed as a player and a person. I learned a lot about myself. Without football, I wouldn’t have learned any of that, good and bad. I don’t regret it because I did learn a lot.”
And what exactly did Singletary learn about himself?
”I feel like I’m willing to go all out for a cause. Before at Baylor, football was kind of on the back burner for me.”
That is no longer the case as Singletary is not done with football just yet. He will compete in the upcoming Probound Sportswear Florida Bowl on March 24th and then head back out to Cal-Poly for his Pro Day a few days later on March 28th.
In preparation for both of those dates, Singletary has been training daily at Competitive Edge Sports in Atlanta, Ga.
“I am busting my butt every day. I feel myself getting better, faster, stronger, more explosive and I’m learning more about the game. It’s such a blessing and privilege to be here. I know I will get a chance and I know it’s 100 percent up to me what I do with that chance. I don’t know exactly how that chance will come, whether its in the draft, free agency or just a random tryout. But I just want to be as ready as I can when it comes.”