Matt Mauck decided not to trade in his helmet and cleats after all. But he also is not rushing to pick up his dental tools either.
Mauck announced Jan. 13 he will forego his senior season and enter the NFL draft in April.
“I turn 25 in February,” Mauck said. “Hopefully, I’ll be married as well in February. I’m really kind of confronted with three choices: one) continue my application process to dental school; two) come back to LSU; and three) see if I could possibly play at the next level. After speaking with coach Saban, my fianceé, my family and consulting with the NFL, I’ve decided it’s the best interest for me right now to forego my senior year and try to enter the NFL draft, and see how that works out.”
Mauck led the Tigers to the 2001 SEC Championship in his freshman season. He replaced injured starter Rohan Davey to rally LSU to a 31-20 victory against No. 2 Tennessee.
In his sophomore year, Mauck earned the starting quarterback job and led the Tigers to a 5-1 start. But a foot injury against Florida ended his season and threatened his career.
Before, Mauck was known for his ability to make plays with his feet. Because of the injury, Saban would not allow Mauck to scramble in practice – making him a better passer.
The 6-foot-3, 213-pound junior led the Southeastern Conference in passing efficiency in 2003, completing 229-of-358 passes. As a starter at LSU, Mauck is 18-2 – best winning percentage for a quarterback in school history.
Mauck’s NFL prospects rose this season after guiding the LSU Tigers to a 13-1 record and the national championship. He tossed 28 touchdowns – an LSU record – and threw for 2,825 yards in his final campaign.
Mauck was asked all season whether or not he would return next season to play quarterback for LSU or enroll in dental school. Nobody knew the NFL was on his mind.
“I think it was kind of blown out of proportion a little bit, as far as that I was going to leave to go to dental school,” Mauck said. “I still love playing football. I love being part of a team [and] the atmosphere that revolved around it. I definitely couldn’t see myself giving up football right now.”
Mauck said he wanted to have options this season and he still plans on applying to dental schools.
“I’m still putting out the applications,” Mauck said. “I just tried to have options, that’s the only thing I could ask for. I’m going to continue to do everything I need to do to try to get accepted to some dental schools.”
Mauck earned 2003 Second Team Academic All-America honors. He graduated in December with a degree in kinesiology.
LSU coach Nick Saban said Mauck may be one of the brighest players he has ever coached.
“This guy sitting next to me probably has done as much with his college career than anybody could ever expect one to do,” Saban said. “In terms of being as good a person as we’ve ever had represent this institution – as a leader and in the community – [Mauck is a] guy that is probably a phenomenal student, as well as we’ve ever had.”
Saban said he is disappointed to lose Mauck, who he initially recruited to play quarterback at Michigan State. But the Jasper, Ind. native then chose to pursue a career in professional baseball as a catcher with the Chicago Cubs’ minor league system – until Saban contacted him about playing for LSU.
Saban said he tried to convince Mauck to return for his senior year.
“We wanted this guy to come back. I think the success that he had as a player has enabled him to have an opportunity in the NFL, but I also think the success that he’s had academically is going to enable him to have a professional career outside of football that’s going to be very significant and lucrative for him in the future as well. I’m just as proud of that as anything.”
Mauck said playing for LSU has been a dream come true and could not think of a better place to prepare him for his future.
“I’ve been extremely fortunate to be able to graduate, and to be able to be part of a program that I’m extremely proud to be a part of,” Mauck said. “It’s far exceeded my expectations – to win two SEC Championships [and] one national championship.”