2024 Football Roster
Spatny, Matt

Jersey Number 11
Matt Spatny
- Position:
- DL
- Height:
- 6-2
- Weight:
- 245
- Class:
- Junior
- Hometown:
- Medina, Ohio
- High School:
- Medina
- Major:
- Architecture
Bio
Why Lehigh?: “For the great balance between academics and football.”
As a junior (2024): Honorable mention AP All-American… first team All-Patriot League… started 12 games at defensive end… led Patriot League with 11.5 sacks, ranking among the FCS leaders… breakout game against Princeton (9/21) with career-high seven tackles and 2.5 sacks… 10.5 of his sacks came in home games… two-sack efforts against Bucknell (9/28) and Colgate (11/16)… had three tackles and 1.5 sacks in Rivalry 160 win over Lafayette (11/23)… selected Lehigh’s game captain for LIU game… named to Patriot League Academic Honor Roll.
As a sophomore (2023): Appeared in all 11 games with nine starts on the defensive line… led team with 8.0 tackles for loss and 5.0 sacks… credited with six tackles against Dartmouth (9/23) and Holy Cross (11/4)… also recovered a fumble against the Crusaders… had five tackles and two sacks at Monmouth (9/30)… named to Patriot League Academic Honor Roll.
As a first-year (2022): Saw time in nine games as part of defensive line rotation… credited with nine tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss and two quarterback pressures… had three tackles and a QB hurry in season-opener at Villanova (9/2).
In high school: First team All-Ohio… first team all-conference and all-district… conference Defensive Player of the Year… also lettered in basketball… four-year honor roll student.
Personal: Son of Jerry Spatny and Robyn Andrew… brother Nathan and sister Carly… father played football at Ashland… brother currently plays football at Ashland.
CAREER STATISTICS (DEFENSE)
Tackles
CAREER HIGHS
Tackles: 7, vs. Princeton, 9/21/24
Tackles for loss: 2.5, vs. Princeton, 9/21/24
Sacks: 2.5, vs. Princeton, 9/21/24
As a junior (2024): Honorable mention AP All-American… first team All-Patriot League… started 12 games at defensive end… led Patriot League with 11.5 sacks, ranking among the FCS leaders… breakout game against Princeton (9/21) with career-high seven tackles and 2.5 sacks… 10.5 of his sacks came in home games… two-sack efforts against Bucknell (9/28) and Colgate (11/16)… had three tackles and 1.5 sacks in Rivalry 160 win over Lafayette (11/23)… selected Lehigh’s game captain for LIU game… named to Patriot League Academic Honor Roll.
As a sophomore (2023): Appeared in all 11 games with nine starts on the defensive line… led team with 8.0 tackles for loss and 5.0 sacks… credited with six tackles against Dartmouth (9/23) and Holy Cross (11/4)… also recovered a fumble against the Crusaders… had five tackles and two sacks at Monmouth (9/30)… named to Patriot League Academic Honor Roll.
As a first-year (2022): Saw time in nine games as part of defensive line rotation… credited with nine tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss and two quarterback pressures… had three tackles and a QB hurry in season-opener at Villanova (9/2).
In high school: First team All-Ohio… first team all-conference and all-district… conference Defensive Player of the Year… also lettered in basketball… four-year honor roll student.
Personal: Son of Jerry Spatny and Robyn Andrew… brother Nathan and sister Carly… father played football at Ashland… brother currently plays football at Ashland.
CAREER STATISTICS (DEFENSE)
Tackles
Year | G | UA | A | Tot | TFL | Sacks |
2022 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 0.5 | 0.0 |
2023 | 11 | 22 | 18 | 40 | 8.0 | 5.0 |
2024 | 12 | 19 | 17 | 36 | 11.5 | 11.5 |
Total | 32 | 45 | 40 | 85 | 20.0 | 16.5 |
CAREER HIGHS
Tackles: 7, vs. Princeton, 9/21/24
Tackles for loss: 2.5, vs. Princeton, 9/21/24
Sacks: 2.5, vs. Princeton, 9/21/24
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