Matt Hermanson Class: Junior Hometown: Sioux Falls, SD High School: Washington Height / Weight: 6-1 / 198 Position: Free Safety Birthdate: 06/08/1992 Experience: 2V

2012 Honors Candidate

Montana: Matt is another of what has been a long line of outstanding Grizzly safeties. He will be vying for a starting berth in 2012. He is the Grizzlies' second leading returning tackler, despite starting just once last season. He is also a valuable member of UM's special teams.

2011: He played in 13 games and started in one (Northern Colorado) as a true freshman. He was fifth on the team with 65 tackles, and tied with two other players with a team-leading three interceptions.

High School: He had an outstanding senior year at Washington High School, leading his team to a second straight 13-0 season, and second consecutive state championship. His senior season he passed for 1,400 yards and 21 touchdowns and rushed for 600 yards and 6 TDs, and had 76 tackles and 4 interceptions on defense. His junior and senior seasons on defense he had combined 140 tackles and 11 interceptions his junior and senior seasons. His prep football coach was his dad, Brian Hermanson. He earned 11 letters: four each in football and track and three in basketball. He was a three-time all-state pick in football, and the Gatorade Player of the Year as a senior Tabbed football MVP on defense as a junior and senior. Served as a team captain in football and hoops his senior year.

Career Highs: He had 13 tackles, including 12 solo stops in Montana's 2011 FCS semifinal loss (31-28) at Sam Houston State. He had five or more tackles in eight games. He had two forced fumbles in UM's 41-14 second round FCS win over Central Arkansas.. He had interceptions at Idaho State, and against Western Oregon and Weber State.

Personal: He is undecided on a major. Birth date: June 8, 1992. His parents are Brian and Mary Hermanson of Sioux Falls.

Quoting Coach Delaney: "Matt is another young man whose dad is an outstanding football coach in South Dakota, and has won numerous championships throughout the years. Matt grew up with football from the time he could walk. When he arrived at The University of Montana two years ago as a true freshman, he was probably the best tackler in our secondary.

"He brings it, and he's intelligent. He's just a sophomore and has some work to do, but we are going to let him loose and let him become 100 percent confident in what he's doing. When he does that, he's going to be a guy who is going to challenge anyone on the football field to out perform him. Matt will be a steady guy, and he will just get better and better as time goes along as he gains more experience."

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