| |||||||||||||||||||
At Stanford: Three-year letter-winner at inside linebacker and special teams ... Started seven games a year ago at one ILB spot and played a key role on special teams ... A fifth-year senior, Matt will compete for a starting role in 2001 ... One of the most experienced linebackers on the team ... He will play a critical role on defense and on special teams for the Cardinal this season .
Coaches' Comments: "I think Matt is a tremendously tough football player, both mentally and physically. He may not be the flashiest player on the field, but I really love the kind of player he is. I trust Matt to do the right things on the field. He's in his fifth year in our program and knows the defense very well. He has improved a great deal the past two years. I really love his toughness. He's a very good football player."- defensive coordinator/LB coach Kent Baer
The 2000 Season:Started seven games at inside linebacker and played in all 11 ... Inserted into the starting lineup in game #4 vs. Arizona ... Started the final six games of the year after Anthony Gabriel went out with an injury ... Finished the year with 42 total tackles, four tackles-for-loss, three pass break-ups, two interceptions, and one forced fumble ... Posted season bests of six tackles in five games ... Had six tackles, including two for loss, vs. Oregon State ... Against USC, he recorded six tackles, had one pass break-up and one interception ... Also intercepted a pass and returned it 25 yards vs. Washington ... Forced a fumble vs. UCLA ... Honorable Mention Academic All-Pac-10.
The 1999 Season: Backup inside linebacker who saw his playing time increase from the previous year ... Finished the season with 28 total tackles, including two quarterback sacks and two tackles-for-loss ... His sacks came against Arizona State and Washington State ... Recorded a season-high five tackles vs. Arizona ... Had four stops against Washington State and Oregon ... Saw significant playing time on special teams.
The 1998 Season: Received playing time at inside linebacker and on special teams ... Recorded 10 tackles and one tackle-for-loss ... Earned his first varsity letter.The 1997 Season: Redshirted the '97 season as an inside linebacker.
In High School: Started at linebacker and fullback for Carlsbad HS in Southern California ... Named to Super Prep's All-Farwest team as a senior after recording 120 tackles and three interceptions ... As a fullback, Matt rushed for over 800 yards and scored 17 TDs ... Named to the Tacoma News Tribune's Western Top-100 ... He was chosen First-Team All-CIF (San Diego section), All-County, All-North County and All-League as a linebacker following his senior season ... Named the league's defensive MVP ... Selected captain and First-Team of the county Scholar-Athlete team ... A Schutt Academic All-American ... Played linebacker and tight end as a junior ... Named the league's co-defensive MVP as a junior ... Broke his school's single season record with 115 tackles as a junior - a record he broke again as a senior ... Named First-Team All-League, First-Team Scholar-Athlete and Second-Team All-CIF as a junior ... National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Scholar-Athlete Award finalist.
Personal Information: Psychology major.
Friedrich's Career Statistics
| Year | UT | AT | TT | Sack/Yds | TFL/Yds | Int |
| 1998 | 10 | 6 | 16 | 0/0 | 1/4 | 0 |
| 1999 | 19 | 9 | 28 | 2/13 | 2/13 | 0 |
| 2000 | 24 | 18 | 42 | 0/0 | 4/6 | 2 |
| Totals | 53 | 33 | 86 | 2/13 | 7/23 | 2 |