Matt Kopa
Encyclopedia
Matthew Alexander "Matt" Kopa (born February 25, 1987) is an American football
offensive tackle for the New England Patriots
of the National Football League
. He played college football
for Stanford
where he changed positions from defensive to offensive lineman in 2007. Kopa was signed in 2010 by the San Francisco 49ers
as an undrafted free agent. On November 9, 2010, Kopa was signed by the Miami Dolphins
off of the 49ers practice squad in order to serve as a backup to Vernon Carey
. He is now a member of the New England Patriots
practice squad.
in Elk Grove, California
. Kopa also played on the Varsity basketball team for two seasons. Kopa burst on to the national spotlight following his outstanding performance at the Palo Alto Nike Camp. In 2004, Kopa was ranked as the #82 player in the nation, and the #7 defensive end in the country according to Rivals.com. He played in the CaliFlorida Bowl at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida on January 2, 2005, along with fellow California stars Mark Sanchez, DeSean Jackson, and Rey Maualuga, and shined with 4 tackles and 2 sacks. In the postseason he was ranked #17 in California according to Rivals.com.
with a degree in mechanical engineering.
as an undrafted free agent following the 2010 NFL Draft
on June 8, 2010. Kopa was released during final cuts, but was signed to the 49ers' practice squad on September 6, 2010, where he practiced for the first eight games of the season. He was signed by the Miami Dolphins
as a free agent off the 49ers' practice squad on November 9, 2010.
On September 3, 2011, Kopa was cut by the Miami Dolphins
as part of the final roster cutdowns. On the 5th of September, Kopa was signed to the New England Patriots
practice squad.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
offensive tackle for the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
for Stanford
Stanford Cardinal football
The Stanford Cardinal football program represents Stanford University in college football at the NCAA Division I FBS level and is a member of the Pac-12 Conference's North Division. Stanford, the top-ranked academic institution with an FBS program, has a highly successful football tradition. The...
where he changed positions from defensive to offensive lineman in 2007. Kopa was signed in 2010 by the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
as an undrafted free agent. On November 9, 2010, Kopa was signed by the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
off of the 49ers practice squad in order to serve as a backup to Vernon Carey
Vernon Carey
Vernon A. Carey is an American football offensive tackle for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Dolphins 19th overall in the 2004 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Miami.-Early years:Carey lettered in football and basketball at Miami...
. He is now a member of the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
practice squad.
Early years
Kopa earned many accolades as both an offensive and defensive lineman throughout high school at Elk Grove High SchoolElk Grove High School
Elk Grove High School, or EGHS, is a public four-year high school located in Elk Grove Village, Illinois, a northwest suburb of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States. It is part of Township High School District 214, which also includes Buffalo Grove High School, John Hersey High School, Prospect...
in Elk Grove, California
Elk Grove, California
Elk Grove is a city in Sacramento County, California, located just south of the state capital of Sacramento. It is part of the Sacramento–Arden-Arcade–Roseville Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 census, the population of the city is 153,015...
. Kopa also played on the Varsity basketball team for two seasons. Kopa burst on to the national spotlight following his outstanding performance at the Palo Alto Nike Camp. In 2004, Kopa was ranked as the #82 player in the nation, and the #7 defensive end in the country according to Rivals.com. He played in the CaliFlorida Bowl at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida on January 2, 2005, along with fellow California stars Mark Sanchez, DeSean Jackson, and Rey Maualuga, and shined with 4 tackles and 2 sacks. In the postseason he was ranked #17 in California according to Rivals.com.
College career
Kopa committed very early in the recruiting process to Stanford, and although numerous college programs continued to try and persuade him to change his mind he maintained his allegiance to Stanford. He began his collegiate career playing on the defensive line for Head Coach Walt Harris. After redshirting his Freshman year, he won the battle for the starting defensive end position in 2006, but suffered a hyperextended elbow during the final week of Training Camp that marginalized his performance until the last month of the season. In 2007, Jim Harbaugh became the new Head Coach at Stanford, and moved Kopa to the offensive line. As a Junior, Kopa played both as a reserve offensive tackle and tight end. Kopa played in 35 career games with the Cardinal and wore three different jersey #'s: 93, 61, and 87. He had seven starts including starting the final six games of the 2008 season, five at right tackle and one at left guard. Kopa was projected to have a breakout season in 2009 and be one of the top offensive tackles taken in the 2010 NFL Draft. Unfortunately, he injured his foot while playing in the 2009 season opener against Washington State and missed the rest of the season after undergoing surgery. Kopa petitioned the NCAA to play a 6th year, but was denied. Kopa graduated in 2010 from Stanford UniversityStanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
with a degree in mechanical engineering.
Professional career
Kopa attended the NFL Scouting Combine in 2010, however; he was still rehabbing from foot surgery and did not participate in the on-field drills. He signed with the San Francisco 49ersSan Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
as an undrafted free agent following the 2010 NFL Draft
2010 NFL Draft
The 2010 NFL Draft was the 75th annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. Unlike previous years, the 2010 draft took place over three days, at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, with the first round on Thursday, April 22, 2010, at 7:30 pm...
on June 8, 2010. Kopa was released during final cuts, but was signed to the 49ers' practice squad on September 6, 2010, where he practiced for the first eight games of the season. He was signed by the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
as a free agent off the 49ers' practice squad on November 9, 2010.
On September 3, 2011, Kopa was cut by the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
as part of the final roster cutdowns. On the 5th of September, Kopa was signed to the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
practice squad.