HomeTeam 100: Spotlight on Matt Breida

Look for Nature Coast RB Matt Breida, No. 38 in the HomeTeam 100  (see Nos. 31-40 here), to put up gaudy numbers via the ground game again this fall.

2011 stats: 208 carries, 1,613 yards, 20 TDs

The breakdown: Sure, Breida’s junior season was one of the best in county history. Only five players in the county have rushed for more yards in a single season, and his 355-yard performance against Central ranks among the North Suncoast’s best single-game outputs.

But maybe it could have been better.

Breida spent the first three weeks of his junior season as the starting running back and a fixture at cornerback, too. The results were solid — a North Suncoast-leading 483 rushing yards (8.3 per carry).

His playing time on defense decreased in district play. The 5-foot-10 speedster responded immediately with his monster game against Central. A fresher Breida continued to average 161 yards in district play against stingy defenses like Sunlake and Hernando.

A 2,000-yard season isn’t out of reach thanks to speed few opponents can touch. His 4.4-second 40-yard dash at a Duke camp caught the attention of Blue Devils coaches, and he was a member of the Sharks’ 4x100 relay team that finished eighth at state.

Don’t be surprised if bigger colleges join Akron, Toledo, UMass and others among his list of college offers.
 

Players in post

• Matthew Breida

Teams in post

• Nature Coast Technical High School