Freeport grad Charlton becomes mainstay on California offensive line
CALIFORNIA, Pa. — Nothing was going to be handed to Matt Charlton.
He liked it that way.
And that challenge didn’t at all sway the Freeport graduate and longtime offensive lineman’s decision to transfer from Clarion to California (Pa.) last summer. He had graduated from Clarion with a degree in business administration, but still had two years of football eligibility remaining.
“That COVID year extended a lot of college football careers and mine was one of them,” Charlton said. “I got my degree at Clarion and felt I needed a change.”
Charlton started two games as a red-shirt freshman with the Golden Eagles in 2019. After COVID-19 took away the 2020 season, the 6-foot-3, 285-pound lineman came back and started all 10 games at Clarion in 2021.
California coach Gary Dunn was quite familiar with Charlton’s capabilities on the field.
“We recruited him when he was in high school,” Dunn said. “When he entered the transfer portal, we were very interested. But, of course, there were no guarantees. We don’t do that for any player.
“Matt was gonna have to earn his spot. We were confident that he would.”
And he did.
Charlton has started all nine games at right guard for the Vulcans (5-4) this season — and then some.
Because of in-game injuries that occurred against Slippery Rock two weeks ago, he wound up sliding over to tackle and finished that game at center.
“I’m willing to do anything to help this team,” Charlton said. “I knew it’d be a challenge to land a starting spot here, but I wanted to be pushed. I like that. It makes you a better player.”
“Matt is so athletic,” Dunn said. “His versatility is one of his strengths. That’s one of the reasons we were attracted to him in the first place.”
Charlton is working on his masters degree at California and still has a year of football eligibility after this one. He is uncertain whether he’ll use it.
“I’m taking a wait-and-see approach,” he said. “It depends on how my body feels. I’ve played a lot of football. I feel part of a brotherhood with these guys and I love it here. This has been a tough year with the close losses (three by 5 points or fewer) and I know we can win next year.
“But this game does take its toll on you physically.”
Charlton was a three-year starter on both sides of the ball at Freeport and was a first team all-conference selection.
He has been part of an offensive line that has enabled California to average 392 yards per game offensively. Quarterback Noah Mitchell became the 19th quarterback in PSAC history to throw for 10,000 career yards — reaching that milestone in the Slippery Rock game.
Mitchell has been sacked less than 15 times this season.
“Matt’s become one of our anchors up front,” Dunn said. “Obviously, we’re hoping we get him back next year.”
