Major: Business (1996-99), Unknown (1995)

Weight: 270 (1999), 250 (1998), 220 (1995-97)

1999 Media Guide: Matt LaVrar, a quiet young man who prefers to let his classroom work and his play on the football field do his talking, is a classic example of the term student-athlete. He is a four-time OSU Student Athlete – and could become one of the few to earn that distinction five times this year – and he has been named Academic All-Big Ten Conference three times. Called “as sound as you can be as a football player and extremely dependable,” by ends coach Shawn Simms, LaVrar is a veteran of 37 games and 11 starting assignments at defensive end. Five of his 54 career tackles have been sacks.

1998: Backed up Rodney Bailey all season at the “Leo” position (strong-side defensive end) and recorded 13 total tackles including three quarterback sacks for losses totaling 11 yards. Had four tackles and two sacks in the win over Iowa. Played in all 12 games for a total of 84 minutes with his longest stints 10 minutes vs. Michigan and nine vs. Michigan State, Illinois and West Virginia.

1998 Media Guide: An OSU Scholar-Athlete and an academic all-Big Ten honoree who started last year at the “Leo” position (strong-side defensive end) and is looking to do the same in 1998 … moved from outside linebacker to defensive end in the spring of 1997 and nailed down the starting job in fall camp last year … is still learning the position, but is making great strides … called “the most consistent end in stopping the run” by ends coach Shawn Simms … Simms adds: “Matt knows leverage and he knows separation, which makes him good against the run … he must continue
to progress like he did at the end of last season at pass rushing.”

1997: Played well in his first year as a starter, progressing with each game and finishing the season with 25 tackles, including one tackle for loss (vs. Indiana) … eight tackles against Arizona was
his top effort and a career high … played in all 13 games, started 11 times and totaled 189 minutes … did not start the last two games because the coaching staff went with more of a four-linebacker look.

1997 Media Guide: Moved to defensive end last spring and quickly worked his way up the depth chart … will vie for playing time this fall … played outside linebacker last season and backed up Greg Bellisari on the boundary … has good size and speed … figures to play even more this year now that he has a year of experience to draw from … also plays on the special teams.

1996: Was in on 16 tackles, 13 of which were solos … played in all 12 games, for a total of 72 minutes. and had at least one tackle in nine of those contests … played 12 minutes against Purdue, 10 minutes versus Minnesota and nine against Penn State … three tackles in the latter game was his top effort of the year … chalked up his first career tackle for loss, a four-yard sack, in the season opener against Rice …

1996 Media Guide: Redshirted last year as a true freshman … the OSU defensive staff likes his combination of strength, size, speed and agility … learns quickly and is coming off a solid
spring showing … has the potential to be a very good football player … enters the fall as a backup on the boundary side behind Kevin Johnson and Jerry Rudzinski … highly recruited player out of high school, winning first-team all-state and Ohio Division II Defensive Player of the Year honors as a senior … also a fine student, receiving a National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete Award his senior year.

1995: Redshirted.

High School: The Ohio Division II Player of the Year and a first team all-state selection last year … had 121 tackles as a senior to help Maumee to a spot in the state playoffs and a 9-2 record … started all four years at linebacker … also won All-Ohio honors as a junior when he was in on 130 tackles … played guard on offense … earned four letters in track and qualified for the state meet each of his last two years … a member of the National Honor Society and a recipient of the National Football Foundation’s Scholar-Athlete Award.

Personal: Plans to major in business at Ohio State … lists former OSU linebacker Chris Spielman as the athlete he most admires … both of his parents are graduates of the University of Toledo.