Wayne Matthews III, an Old Dominion transfer in his 2nd season with Michigan State, has been a force for the Spartans this fall. Heading into Saturday, he ranked second on the team with 24 tackles. It included a tackle for loss and an interception, trailing only Jordan Hall’s 27 stops. But Saturday brought a frightening moment. On what looked like a routine play against USC, Matthews stayed down on the field before being stretchered off. So, what’s the current status of the star LB?

On first-and-goal from the 9, he slammed head-on into Trojans RB MarShawn Lloyd alongside DE Quindarius Dunnigan. After that, Matthews stayed down as trainers rushed in, cut his pads and jersey, and secured him to a backboard. He was then loaded onto an ambulance. FOX’s Alexa Landestoy added that Michigan State players will carry him in their thoughts for the remainder of the game. But the injury appears serious, with new updates suggesting significant concern.

He gave a thumbs-up to the crowd, earning a heartfelt ovation from USC fans. And his Spartans teammates huddled together, a show of unity and support, before heading back to the sideline. However, he was quickly transported to LA General Medical Center for more tests. And now, Michigan State confirmed that, despite the scare, Matthews’ motor skills remain intact. But with Matthews III headed to a Level-1 trauma center, MSU faces a major setback.

Michigan State’s LB room is stretched to the breaking point. Jordan Hall was already out after a targeting ejection, leaving Matthews to shoulder the play-calling with the green dot. Now, with both sidelined, Darius Snow becomes the focal point, having already logged a team-high 41 snaps. So now the margin for error has vanished, and the spotlight is squarely on him. But “Some moments are bigger than football,” stated Landestoy, as Matthews’ injury has fans across MSU praying for him.

Fans are keeping Wayne Matthews III in their prayers

After losing Jordan Hall, Wayne Matthews III’s injury is another crushing blow for Michigan State this season. At this point, depth is stretched thin, but for fans, nothing matters more than players’ health. That’s why reacting to the news, one fan tweeted, “I hope he is okay and gets better soon ❤️.” Another added, “Prayers up; nothing is going the Spartans’ way on the defensive side.” So, concern and support poured in as the Spartan community rallied around their LB.

Not just the MSU fans, but ex-NFL QB Robert Griffin III also spoke out, offering support for Matthews. “People forget these players are human,” stated Griffin. “When you see a guy like that go down, even on the other team, it hits you. Just want to lift up Wayne Matthews III and pray for him and his family.”

Although USC scored a TD to go up 24-10 at that time, the focus remains on Matthews, with everyone hoping he’s okay as the game heads into halftime. Now, after his hospitalization, fans poured out support. One tweeted, “So sad, praying for him,” while another shared a simple, “🙏🙏🙏.” Meanwhile, messages of hope and prayers keep flooding in. Finally, one fan summed up the sentiment, stating, “Prayers for Wayne Matthews III, awful man 🙏.” But that’s not the end; fans continue to rally, sending thoughts to the Spartan LB during this difficult time.