September 16, 2015

Moving to Linebacker from Safety for Senior Year, Co-Captain Arends Aiming to Shore Up PU Defense

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HAPPY CAMPERS: Princeton University football senior co-captains, Matt Arends, left, and Seth DeValve enjoy a light moment as the players took a break from preseason camp earlier this month for the program’s media day. Arends is moving to outside linebacker from safety this fall as the Tigers look to shore up their defense after giving up 28.7 points a game in 2014 in going 5-5 overall and 4-3 Ivy League. The Tigers open their 2015 season by playing at Lafayette on September 19. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Matt Arends found a home in the secondary during his first three years with the Princeton University football team.

As a freshman in 2012, Arends made six starts at cornerback, leading all Tiger underclassmen with 44 tackles. In 2013, Arends moved to safety, earning All-Ivy league honorable mention, making 61 tackles, getting an interception and forcing six pass break-ups in 10 starts. Last fall, Arends made two interactions and 56 tackles as he started every game.

But with the Tigers looking to shore up their defense this fall giving up 28.7 points a game in 2014 in going 5-5 overall and 4-3 Ivy League, Arends is leaving his comfort zone and is moving up the field to outside linebacker.

While the switch could have been upsetting, Arends is happy to do what the team needs.

“I love it, I found out right after the season,” said Arends, a 6’1 native of Prior Lake, Minn.

“The biggest challenge is putting on weight. I went from 208 to 222. When I came in from high school, I was always more of a rover and outside linebacker even though I was technically a safety. I definitely like
playing the run, I missed it.”

Arends’ upbeat, team-first attitude was recognized this spring when he was voted as one of Princeton’s 2015 team captains along with classmate and wide receiver Seth DeValve.

“It was obviously an honor to be selected captain and to be respected by these guys,” said Arends. “It is a great group of guys, I am definitely very happy to be chosen.”

As a captain, Arends is focused on making leadership a group effort. “I think the biggest thing is that it is not just me or Seth or some of the others who have stepped up as leaders, but trying to get the whole senior class to bring everyone together,” said Arends.

“I think just having that entire senior class leadership ability is what is going to really bring us together.”

The Princeton defense need to play better together as it comes off a season that saw the Tigers give up more than 40 points a game in losses to Harvard, Yale and Dartmouth.

“We looked at it from a perspective that we need to be consistent,” said Arends.

“That is what we weren’t last year. We had the talent, we had the ability, we just couldn’t put it together. The biggest thing is that we had so  many missed assignments and mental errors. We need to have that whole defensive approach where everyone knows or at least has an idea what the person behind them is doing so we know how to fill gaps and we know where our support is so we can correct it on the field immediately.”

In Arends’ view, the Tigers took a step in the right direction this spring with a trip to Japan that saw Princeton post a 36-7 victory over the Kwansei Gakuin University Fighters, the national college champion of Japan, in the “Legacy Bowl” in Osaka, Japan

“In spring ball, we had something to work for which was awesome,” said Arends.

“We had to prepare for a game and that just helps significantly. I think the whole attitude of spring ball changed dramatically and I think that is what made it more successful than in the past.”

In the view of Princeton head coach Bob Surace, moving Arends up the field should be a significant plus for the Tiger defense,

“We got Matt closer to the ball which I think will pay dividends,” said Surace.

“His best plays have been closer to the line so I think he is going to give us an athletic, physical presence there.”

As Princeton prepares for its season opener at Lafayette on September 19, it has been enjoying a productive preseason camp that should pay dividends as the fall unfolds.

“It has been going well, we have been playing fast for the most part,” said Arends.

“We have had a high energy, I think the guys are just ready to go. We changed up the schedule for camp, which has made camp much more efficient. From that perspective, we have been able to fly around and have more fun with it.”

Arends is hoping to have a fun senior season as Princeton looks to regain its championship form of 2013, when it went 8-2 overall and 6-1 Ivy to share the league title with Harvard.

“We need consistency on the field and I think the other thing is we got to keep our focus,” asserted Arends.

“There would be times when we would just lose it in games last year and you would see the momentum change.”