Standing above the rest

Towson Football’s Matt Kauffman is working on his master’s degree while helping the Tigers push towards the playoffs

By Kyle Hobstetter on Nov. 14, 2018

TU Football's Matt Kauffman
Standing 6-foot-5, Towson Football's Matt Kauffman has been a key player for the Tigers' offensive line. This past spring he graduated with degree in economics, and is now working towards a master's degree. 

At 6-foot-5, Towson University football offensive tackle Matt Kauffman strikes an intimidating figure.   

And while Kauffman stands out on campus — mainly because he stands over most of the TU community — the York, Pa. native also stands out in his family.

That’s because he is the first person in his family to go to college and earn a degree. This past spring, Kauffman earned his bachelor’s degree in economics from Towson University.

With one more year of eligibility on the field, Kauffman decided to continue his education as well and is currently working on a master’s degree in TU’s Marketing Intelligence Program.

When asked if he’s proof of the old stereotype the offensive lineman are the smartest guys on the field, Kauffman wouldn’t give a direct answer, just a quick laugh and an “I guess.” 

“When I walked across the graduation stage, it was such a cool feeling,” Kauffman said. “The TU Economics department was great to work with, and the academic staff that works with the football team has also been very helpful. Because of them, my time here has been smooth sailing.”

When looking for where he wanted to spend his college years, Kauffman initially focused on Towson University because it was close to home. It also meant his parents could come watch his games.

But while proximity to home was important to Kauffman, it was the atmosphere at “Maryland’s Fastest Growing University,” that really stuck with him.

“Towson is such a great university,” Kauffman said. “It’s constantly growing, even in just my four years. And the people, the people really sold it for me. The coaches, the teachers, the university as a whole really sold me on TU.”

Another reason Kauffman was excited was that his freshman year came right after the season where the Tiger Football team made a run to the FCS National Championship game.

After redshirting his freshman year, Kauffman has become a key member of the Tigers’ offensive line — appearing in all 43 games of his TU career and starting in all but four games.

But along with being a key to TU’s success on the field, Kauffman has been key to the team’s community service efforts. His favorite moment was going to a local elementary school during Dr. Seuss Day, and reading “Green Eggs and Ham.”

“It’s such a great feeling to be able to go and give back to the people in the community,” Kauffman said. “Reading to kids and seeing how much they enjoy being around us, and how much it brings a smile on their faces, it’s a really cool experience for us.” 

Going into his final season with the Tigers, Kauffman said he had some contact with a few NFL scouts. He’s had more eyes on him after the Tigers started the season 6-1 and have been nationally ranked for most of the season.

With a strong final season, Kauffman understands that there could still be a future with football. But he knows no matter what his future is, he’s prepared.

“We’ll see if the opportunity presents itself to play at the next level,” Kauffman said. “If not, I’m going to have two great degrees from Towson University to fall back on."

Kauffman and the rest of the Towson University football seniors will play their last game at Johnny Unitas Stadium on Saturday Nov. 17 against nationally ranked James Madison.

Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m., and students, faculty and staff get a free ticket with their TU OneCard. Towson University athletics is also running a special ticket deal for the outside community, with tickets starting for as low as $15