Matt's Article

So I'm a little late getting this up here but it's an article in a newspaper up in Brigham City that did a special on Matt...his first real full on newspaper interview and all that jazz. It was printed sometime just before the TCU game.
Here's the link if you have the desire to read it from the site itself: http://www.standard.net/live/sports/145764/

Reaching potential: Ex-Bee Putnam shining in Cougars' defense
There are 2 comments for this page [ View ]Tuesday, October 14, 2008By TRENT TOONEStandard-Examiner staff
PROVO -- For a guy who didn't really know what he wanted after high school, things sure have fallen into place quite nicely for Matt Putnam.
Believe it or not, there was a time not long ago when the towering 6-foot-6, 237-pound defensive end for the No. 9 BYU Cougars wasn't sure if he had a shot at playing college football.
"I don't know that I even had a dream. I was amazed I got scholarship offers," said Putnam, who was recruited by the likes of Stanford, Oregon, Colorado, Utah and Utah State. "I didn't really see myself playing in a big game, probably because I was in little Brigham City and didn't even know what was going on in the rest of the state. Little did I know I was one of the best prospects in the state."
Turns out the former Box Elder High athlete had potential after all.
Fast-forward through an LDS mission to McAllen, Texas, and a redshirt season at BYU, and now Putnam is one of coach Bronco Mendanhall's rising young stars on the Cougars' defense.
After a year of work with the practice squad, the freshman didn't start to see serious playing time until he impressed coaches in the lopsided win over UCLA. He hadn't anticipated playing against the Bruins, but got the nod with BYU up 44 points in the second half.
"It was just crazy. I came off (the bench) and made a few plays. I got an interception," Putnam said. "The coaches were willing to trust me a lot more, willing to throw me out there and see what I could do."
Going into Thursday's game at TCU, Putnam has recorded 13 tackles, two sacks and helped to cause all manner of chaos and confusion for opposing quarterbacks, but hopes his best efforts are yet to come.
Considering the condition of his body following his mission, Putnam is counting his blessing to be performing so well. The Brigham City native said he was 60 pounds too healthy when he returned home from Texas after two years of proselyting for the LDS Church.
"Getting back in shape is not exactly the easiest thing when you are 60 pounds over weight," he said. "But at BYU they take care of us."
Returning to top form wasn't impossible, Putnam said, because the program has worked with so many returned missionaries over the years that they have the process down to a scientific formula.
"BYU has really figured out how to do transform bodies without people getting injured," he said. "They take it easy on us until the body is ready and strong enough, and when we are ready for it, they go full bore."
Even so, until this season, Putnam hadn't played in a football game since leaving Box Elder in 2004, where he helped the Bees to an 18-4 record in his final two seasons and earned all-American honors.
He was prepared for the college game, however, because grew up watching two of his older brothers. One brother, Jeff, played at Air Force and another brother, Nate, played at Utah State.
"(Nate) was one of the hardest workers on the team," Matt said. "He told me to work hard, but didn't give me much more advice. But I knew what to do because I watched him play at USU."
Thus coming back to Romney Stadium two weeks ago was a bit nostalgic for No. 57. He said it was a little strange to be there and not be pulling for the Aggies.
"I kind of grew up an Aggie," he said. "I remember it getting loud and rowdy, so I was ready for that. I knew they wouldn't give up."
The Cougars won the game, 34-14, and Putnam said he almost feels like a seasoned veteran now. He says he can handle the attention that comes with wearing the BYU uniform, the big stadiums, the fan frenzy, the juggling act of school work and taking care of his wife, Jill.
"I am used to it now. Getting playing time has helped it come back," Putnam said. "Sometimes it's surreal. When we are in a huge game with tons of people screaming and all the stuff we get, I'm just like 'wow, from little Brigham City all the way to this.' It's amazing to take advantage of that."