By Jim Gehman, Player Engagement Insider
Not Everyone has the same vision. For instance, one team could have looked at Grand Valley State’s two-time, first-team All-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference defensive end Matt Judon and imagined him playing the same position in the NFL.
The Baltimore Ravens, on the other hand, looked at Judon, who won the Gene Upshaw Award as the NCAA’s Division II’s top defensive lineman, and imagined him as an outside linebacker. They selected him in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL Draft.
“For them to say they think I can be a player on the Baltimore Ravens’ defense, it was really surreal because when you’re a defensive player, that’s the type of team you picture,” Judon said. “You picture the Ravens, the Seahawks, the old-school Bears, just a real gritty and really hardworking defense.
“It takes you back to all those defensive performances the Ravens had late in the season or in the playoffs. They were always up there on defense. And I got drafted to their defense and special teams. Them saying that they think I’m that type of player, it was just a surreal thing.”
Moving from defensive end, a position where he led the nation at any collegiate level, with 21 sacks in 2015, to outside linebacker, has worked well for the rookie.
“I thought I’d be dropping a lot more. Not saying that I wanted to,” Judon said. “That was the only thing I questioned because I’d never done it in college. But I wasn’t worried. It was just something new and I was willing to accept the responsibility of an outside linebacker. I fell like my skill set transitioned well and they thought it has transitioned well, as well.
“The biggest adjustment, I think, is playing in a two-point (stance) all the time. But I think it’s a better adjustment because I see more when I’m standing up a little higher taking on blocks. As long as I can drop my weight and save my leverage, I think it’s fine.”
Having begun his NFL career by playing in nine of Baltimore’s 11 games, Judon has three sacks and 14 combined tackles. And the best thing about playing in the league so far?
“Everything. It’s a dream come true,” Judon said. “I’m just trying to live in the moment, be in the moment instead of maybe whenever he decides to retire, looking back on it and saying, man, I had (Pro Bowl linebacker) Terrell Suggs in the locker room with me. I had (Pro Bowl wide receiver) Steve Smith in the locker room with me. I had (Pro Bowl guard) Marshal Yanda, (quarterback) Joe Flacco, those guys on the team.
“That’s probably the best thing so far, the players, and how we interact with each other. There’s no, ‘just because you’re on offense, I don’t talk to you.’ Or, ‘just because you’re on defense, I don’t talk to you.’ There are so many guys in the locker room that I kind of looked up to or I watched on TV, and now I’m in the same locker room with them.”
Judon hasn’t only gotten to know his new teammates; he’s also taken some time to become familiar with his new home.
“The other day I drove from the mall without my GPS,” Judon said with a laugh. “I’m trying to get to know the area, but I’m trying to get to know my plays a little bit more. So, I’m not too worried getting to know the area. I’ll do that in the offseason.
“But we’ve been to the inner city for a couple of charity events and it’s been pretty nice. It’s really important (to get out and interact with people in the community) because without the fans the game wouldn’t be anything. It’s a huge deal to give back to the community because they’ve given so much to this organization and the players that have come through here.
“Our fans come out every week and fill the place and they have it rocking. They ride and die with us. There are a lot of diehard Baltimore Ravens fans.”