Matt Tuleja

Position:
Fullback
Height:
6-2
Weight:
265
Class:
Graduate Student
Hometown:
Mansfield, Mass.
High School:
Xaverian / Assumption College

2017 - Graduate Student (Second Year)
• Petitioned the NCAA for a medical hardship waiver and was granted eligibility mid-season
• Made his first appearance against Georgia Southern (10/21) and sprung Bilal Ally for a 57-yard touchdown with a key lead block

2016 - Graduate Student (First Year)
• Was not a member of the program

2015 - Redshirt Senior
• Was not a member of the active roster

2014 - Redshirt Junior
• Finished the season with three receptions for 22 yards and one touchdown mainly seeing time on special teams and as a blocking fullback
• Made his first appearances with the Minutemen as a reserve against Colorado (9/6) and at Vanderbilt (9/13)
• Added snaps at fullback against Penn State (9/20) and Bowling Green (9/27)
• Helped open running lanes for Shadrach Abrokwah when Abrokwah ran for 128 yards and a touchdown over 25 carries (5.1 ypc) at Miami (Ohio) on Oct. 4
• Caught his first pass as a Minuteman, a five-yard TD grab, at Kent State (10/11) and paved the way for Lorenzo Woodley to rush for 160 yards and a TD on 23 carries (7.0 ypc) against the Golden Flashes
• Started at fullback when the Minutemen tallied 562 total yards of offense, including 225 yards on the ground with five rushing touchdowns against Eastern Michigan (10/18)
Notched a 10-yard reception at Toledo (10/25).

2013 - Redshirt Sophomore (at Massachusetts)
• Transferred to UMass but did not compete during his first year in Amherst.

2012 - Sophomore (at Assumption College)
• Played in eight games and had 30 yards rushing over 10 carries, including one for a touchdown
• Best game of the year came against Stonehill College with five carries for 21 yards, including a one-yard TD rumble

2011 - Freshman (at Assumption College)
• Appeared in eight games as a rookie
• Posted 10 rushing yards on three attempts
• Scored his first career touchdown on a five-yard rush at Pace
• Had one catch for 20 yards in a road win at Saint Anselm
• Finished with nine total tackles on three solo stops and six assisted tackles
• Had a season-high four tackles at American International

Before Massachusetts
• Was a member of the Assumption College football team in 2011 and 2012
• Played football at Xaverian (Mass.) High School, where he also competed in basketball and was a member of the track team
• Won the Unsung Hero Award on his football team
• Scored one touchdown as Xaverian captured the 2009 MIAA Division I State Championship and sealed its undefeated season with a 29-0 shutout of Everett High School
• Competed in the 2010 USAPL Massachusetts Open High School Powerlifting Championships
• Son of Stephen and Donna Tuleja
• Has one sister, Kristen and a brother, Jake