RUSTON, La. – As late summer approached in 2014, Matthew Ydarraga had come to the conclusion that his football playing career was over.

The Catholic High School graduate hadn't signed a national letter of intent. So, he had his eyes set on enrolling at LSU and simply majoring in engineering.

Football was in the rearview mirror. That is until he received an 11^th hour reprieve from a phone call from LA Tech coach Joe Sloan.

"I wasn't highly recruited out of high school," said Matthew. "I had some offers to some smaller D2 schools and I-AA schools. Initially my choice was to go to LSU and just do academics. But then Tech offered me a preferred walk-on. I didn't even have to visit. I was like 'Yes. I am going to go here.' I knew about the engineering school. It's a great engineering school.

"I wasn't invited initially. But when I got the call from Coach Sloan, I dropped everything and drove straight here because I was so excited about the opportunity to play football."

Four years and five football seasons later, Matthew will end his playing career in Honolulu, Hawaii, against the Rainbow Warriors in the Hawaii Bowl Dec. 22. It will be one last opportunity to wear the red and blue and represent his alma mater.

And a chance for redemption.

"The feeling around the weight room is people are excited to get back after it," said Matthew, who enjoys salt water fishing in the Grand Isle area when he has free time. "We had a bad taste in our mouths after the last two losses, and we just want to get back on the field to redeem ourselves. We are excited."

A lot has transpired over the past four years, both on the field and in the classroom.

Matthew earned his bachelor's degree in construction engineering technology less than a month ago. And in a few days, he hopes to earn his fifth bowl championship – a record that will most likely never be broken.

He joins Jaylon Ferguson, Shane Carpenter, Kam McKnight, Michael Rodriguez and Will Parker as the six Bulldogs who have been a part of every bowl during this impressive five-year stretch; the previous four ending in wins.

2014 Heart of Dallas Bowl Champions. 2015 New Orleans Bowl Champions. 2016 Armed Forced Bowl Champions. 2017 Frisco Bowl Champions.

Can this class make it five bowl wins in a row?

"It's extremely important because we have done it the past four years," said Matthew, who earned a scholarship prior to the 2017 season. "This senior class has experienced a lot. I don't think it will distract us that we are going to Hawaii. I think we will be locked in for this game."

The life of a student-athlete is about balancing school and athletics. College is not easy for any student athlete, but much less an engineering major. However, the Baton Rouge, La., native said the support of his coaches is what allowed him to handle the challenges that came with the juggling act.

"Coach (Rick) Petri has a background in engineering. He knows it takes a lot of extra time. I've had to miss some meetings for things like afternoon labs that come with the major," said Matthew, a two-time Conference USA Commissioner's Honor Roll recipient. "They have been through it all with me and supported me along the way. I've had to juggle a lot.

"I had an internship (with Womack and Sons Construction) this past summer and Coach Holtz helped me get the internship. The coaches just want the best for you here. That is a huge aspect about the culture at Tech. It's not just about football. They know that after football I am going into the construction industry.

"Last summer I would work there in between watching film and working out, doing Friday afternoon football workouts. They worked around my schedule because they want the best for me. I'm really grateful for that."

Matthew has played in all 12 games for Tech this season – 45 in his Bulldog career – while recording 19 tackles from his defensive line positon. However, it is not the stats or even the bowl wins that will be the most prized memory of his Tech career. No, it's something much more important.

"The guys I've met here are what I will cherish," said Matthew. "You grow tremendously close to your brothers on the football team. We are close knit. We are always together. These guys are what mean the most."