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  Matt Bonito
Matt Bonito

Player Profile
Class:
Senior

Hometown:
Lima, Ohio

High School:
Central Catholic

Height / Weight:
6-6 / 305

Position:
Offensive Tackle

Birthdate:
07/17/1977

Experience:
2L

Top candidate to replace two-year starter Greg Robinson-Randall at right tackle . . .

AS A JUNIOR: Saw action in six games (vs. Eastern Michigan, Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Ohio State and Northwestern) and played 121 minutes . . . took over at left tackle vs. Ohio State and played a career-high 45.5 minutes after Siitupe Peko sprained his right knee . . . started at left tackle vs. Northwestern with Peko out of the lineup . . .

AS A SOPHOMORE: Appeared in 10 games in 1998, including two starts at right tackle (vs. Colorado State and Oregon) . . . played more than 10 minutes in seven games . . . saw extended duty vs. Ohio State (10.5 minutes) and Purdue (19.5) when Robinson-Randall went down with a sprained left ankle . . . graded out 85 percent in his pass-blocking assignments against top-ranked Ohio State . . .

AS A FRESHMAN: Missed the last three games of the 1997 season with a knee injury . . . injured his left knee (MCL) in practice Nov. 13 . . . worked behind Dave Mudge at right tackle in '97 . . . saw action in three games (vs. Western Michigan, Memphis and Indiana) . . . graded out a season-best 89 percent vs. Indiana . . . played a season-high 37 snaps in the '97 opener vs. Western Michigan . . . made the move from defensive end to offensive tackle following spring drills . . . 1996 SEASON: Redshirted . . .

HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL DATA: Ranked as the Midwest's No. 19 defensive lineman by the National Recruiting Advisor . . . honorable mention All-Midwest pick by Blue Chip Illustrated . . . earned all-state and all-area honors as a tight end in 1995 . . . averaged 12 tackles and 1.5 sacks per game as a senior . . . a four-year letterman in football for Coach Chuck Downing at Lima (Ohio) Catholic Central . . . first-team all-state selection at defensive end in '94 . . . finished prep career with 284 tackles . . . also earned three letters each in basketball and track . . . born July 17, 1977 . . . nicknamed "Bobo" . . . majoring in merchandising management.