
Idaho’s steady-hitting safety with real downhill juice
In the 2025 season, Idaho safety Matt Irwin showed up as a reliable, physical defender, playing all 12 games and posting 45 tackles, 29 solo stops, one tackle for loss, and two pass breakups; he also stacked back-to-back career-best 11-tackle games late in the year, which is a nice sign of growth and confidence. He’s the kind of player coaches like because he’s versatile, tough, and active around the ball, with a former quarterback’s feel for the game. If a team wants a high-effort safety who can tackle, communicate, and keep getting better, Irwin fits the bill.






