Notre Dame has had plenty of special teams demons throughout the years, and junior receiver Matt Jeffery is the latest.
On Saturday night, Jeffery got his hand on a Michigan State punt, providing a shot of momentum to Notre Dame Stadium.
It was another example of Notre Dame’s aggressive approach to special teams, which was on full display throughout the 27-10 win. The Irish ran a fake punt on fourth-and-13 and made several other attempts to get to the Michigan State punter in addition to Jeffery’s blocked punt.
That aggressive style fits Jeffery and Notre Dame has embraced his willingness to take chances in the often-forgotten third phase of the game.
“I love every aspect of that,” explained Jeffery. “I'm an aggressive competitor as well. I just want to take all those chances that coach gives us, like the punt fake and trying to go block punts, stuff like that on special teams that gives us a little bit of an edge on other opponents.”
Jeffery arrived at Notre Dame as a walk-on but was quickly put on scholarship.
Part of that was his ability to contribute in a variety of ways on special teams. Last season, Jeffery also carved out a role as a blocker in a few offensive packages.
“As long as I'm out there, I'm having fun,” stated Jeffery. “If that's in special teams or offense, I don't really care as long as I want to help contribute to the team as much as I can. I knew coming in here that I wasn't really going to have a receiver role. Coach (Mike) Brown didn't really know me even during fall camp my true freshman year.”
Jeffery could have pouted about not getting an opportunity at receiver as a freshman.
Instead, the two-sport star went to special teams coordinator Marty Biagi, understanding that special teams could provide his path onto the field.
“I was trying to just get in Coach Biagi's office, trying to get on the field as much as I can, whether that was at gunner reps at punt or on kickoff return — just trying to show that I could be a physical body,” Jeffery said. “I'm not scared of contact.”
That approach earned attention and eventually helped pave the way for Jeffery’s offensive role in 2025.
“I just wanted to show that I could be a football player,” Jeffery explained. “I don't need to just run routes to be a football player. I could do the gritty work like blocking and stuff. I try to hold myself true to being a good blocker and doing the little things, not just catching balls.”
Still, Jeffery continues to work toward carving out a larger role at receiver.
The Connecticut native has three career receptions for 65 yards, but he believes there is more to come.
“I've definitely just been watching and trying to take in everything I can from Jordan (Faison),” Jeffery said. “He's my ultimate mentor and I always look up to Jordan, because he kind of started it for me and made it an opportunity and a dream that I want to achieve too. He's just putting on such a good display of how it's really done at a high standard.
“I'm just trying to follow in those footsteps. Obviously, make a different name for myself and just kind of pursue that dream that I've always had, as well as being a lacrosse player.”
Like Faison, Jeffery has spent his life playing multiple sports. While the workload can be demanding, he’s used to balancing his time and energy between football, lacrosse and academics.
“It's more just like the mental factor of everything in college being more demanding,” said Jeffery. “There's more volume to pick up, especially even in lacrosse. In high school, lacrosse practices were two hours max. We'd go in there, watch three minutes of film, practice for an hour and a half. In college, it's like we're really dissecting film. We're trying to see who's playing you. Then we have a game plan that we kind of have to study. It's just more volume. Plus, with academics, everything is just more volume.”
On the lacrosse field, Jeffery started all 16 games last season and earned All-ACC honors. He was also named an honorable mention All-American by Inside Lacrosse and USA Lacrosse, while the USILA named him a third-team All-American in 2026.
For now, Jeffery has no plans to step away from lacrosse.
“I haven't done that much in football to be able to call myself a true wide receiver, to quit lacrosse in a sense of stop pursuing that sport,” stated Jeffery. “I don't think I'm at that point yet to have a personal preference.
“I've never had the conversation with Coach Freeman or Coach Brown about stopping playing lacrosse and just focusing on football yet. I don't think we're at that point in conversation, just because it's so early in the season. We're just also trying to stay in the moment, just trying to focus on the game this weekend.”
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