Offensive line was where Matt Riebel made his mark in high school. That’s where he played at Independence Community College.
“I love defense,” said Riebel, former Iola High football player, as he embarks on the next part of his college football journey. “I’d like to play defense but I’ll play wherever they need me to play.”
Riebel recently signed a letter of intent to play football for Waldorf College in Forest City, Iowa. Waldorf is an NAIA football program and member of the Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference.
“We are very excited to have Matt join our program,” said Waldorf head coach Kent Anderson, who took over the Warrior football program in January, in a Warrior news release.
“Matt is an outstanding lineman that we expect to come in and immediately compete for a starting position. His size and experience will be a great addition to the program.”
Riebel is 6-2 and 308 pounds and is working himself back into playing shape. He played two years at Independence Community College on the offensive line, mainly at center.
“I was redshirted my first year at Independence then started on the offensive line the next two years,” Riebel said. “One of the reasons Waldorf looked at me was that Elzie Anderson, a coach from Independence, left and went to Waldorf.
“I met Elzie at KU football camps when I was in high school and he recruited me to Independence.”
Anderson spent five years as defensive coordinator at ICC before leaving this spring for Waldorf.
“Elzie has been a big part of my football life and I was sad that he left ICC. He put me in as a defensive lineman during practice drills once and I made an impression on him,” Riebel said.
Riebel said he could play as a noseguard or defensive tackle or just on the offensive line. He also is a long snapper.
“I’ve been working hard this summer to get back into shape. I thought I was done with football but now have a great opportunity to play football and finish my college education,” Riebel said.
Riebel has an associates degree in criminal justice from Independence Community College. He is pursuing his criminal justice degree at Waldorf and a minor in business management.
Riebel is the son of Marta and Danny Riebel of Iola.
He said he had an offer to play football overseas but really wasn’t interested at the time. “Now, maybe that will still be an option once I’m done with college.”
