Matt Linenberger

What Scouts Say: "Left-footed player who has great soccer IQ ... Big kid, decently athletic but not fast ... Makes up for lack of pace by being a smart soccer player and he puts himself in good spots defensively ... Reads the game very well and is hard as nails ... Physical presence on the field, aggressive and tough with his tackles ... First three years he played at left back and in 2012 he moved to left centerback ... Clean with the ball, connects passes out of the back and can play both short and long passes ... Very good crosser of the ball as a left back ... Good size and good leaping ability makes him effective in the air ... Pace is going to be his biggest challenge. He doesn't have great pure speed. Mobility on the turn might also be an issue ... Lack of speed means centerback is his best position in MLS ... Best comparison might be with Philadelphia's Jeff Parke."

AS A FRESHMAN (2009)
Appeared in 19 matches as a freshman, including nine starts...both of his goals during the season came in the postseason...in the MPSF Tournament semifinal against UNLV, he met up with a ball that stuck in the snow near the top of the box on a sprint, dribbled, and fired an un-natural right footed shot that bounded off the right side of the UNLV 'keeper and into the back of the net for the game winner...the shot was just his second of the season...forced overtime in the MPSF championship game against New Mexico by chesting a cross by Ernesto Carranza into the net in the 88th minute to tie the score at 2-2.

High School: A 2009 graduate of Jesuit HS in Carmichael, Calif...four-year letterwinner for coach Paul Rose...was a first team all-Delta River League honoree as a senior, while earning defensive MVP honors for the team, which was ranked No. 1 by both ESPN and the National Soccer Coaches Association of America...played with teammate Pat Carden...was named one of the top ten high school players to watch by the Sacramento Bee in 2008.

Club: Competed at the club level for California Rush, where he led the team to a US Soccer club regional title and back-to-back State Cup titles...also took part in the Olympic Development Program at the state level.

Personal: Parents are Michael and Michelle Linenberger...son of Sacramento State's head coach...an undeclared major.