DALLAS – Matthew Cindric was one of 20 of the nation's top leaders in college football to be named a semifinalist for the 2022 Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year on Wednesday. The semifinalists were selected for demonstrating a record of leadership by exhibiting exceptional courage, integrity and sportsmanship both on and off the field. The award, presented by Albertsons and Tom Thumb, is the first college football honor to focus primarily on a player's leadership both on and off the field.

Cindric was selected despite suffering a season-ending injury at Colorado on October 15.

Three finalists will be named for the award on December 14, with the winner will be announced at the award ceremony in Frisco, Texas, on February 23, 2023.

Cindric is Cal's second semifinalist in as many years following Elijah Hicks' 2021 selection for the honor now in its' sixth edition.

Below are notes on Cindric with his extended bio available by clicking on his name.
 
Matthew Cindric, OL, 6-4, 295, R-Sr., 5th Season At Cal (Sammamish, WA/Skyline HS)
Community/Leadership
— One of Cal's three season team captains in 2022 along with Daniel Scott and Jack Plummer
— One of two Cal student-athlete representatives along with Scott at 2022 Pac-12 Football Media Day
— President of Cal's Athletes In Action chapter who went to Croatia on the organization's community service trip
— Gave Ted Talk on leadership as a participant in Cal's Cameron Institute Speaker Series
— Worked with UpCycle and Cal's Cameron Institute to lead a clothing drive
— Three-year youth coach for Next Level Flag Football on the Cal campus
— Member of the Cal Football Team Leadership Council (2019 – Current)
— Student Director of Cal's Haas School of Business Student-Athlete Mentorship Program that helps student-athletes through the rigorous application process to the prestigious business school
 
Academics
— Graduated from Cal in business administration in May of 2022 with a 3.77 GPA and is currently enrolled in the master's of education program with an intersection of sports in education
— Three-time member of Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll (2019-21) with the 2022 selections yet to be made
— COSIDA Academic All-District 8 selection as a 2021 junior and Academic All-America nominee as a 2022 senior
— Cal's 2021-22 academic year Jake Gimble Prize winner for the honor that recognizes a graduating male student-athlete for their successful integration of academic and athletic pursuits
— Two-time winner of Cal's Frank Schlessinger Coaches Award (2019, 2021) for outstanding athletic ability and academic success
 
Athletics
— Has played in 34 games with 33 starts over the last three-plus seasons with 17 starts at right guard and 16 at center
— Started a career-high all 13 games as a 2019 redshirt freshman including 11 at right guard and two at center, each of the last three games at right guard as a 2020 sophomore, all 11 at center as a 2021 junior, and his first three at center and last three at right guard as a 2022 senior before suffering a season-ending injury in game six at Colorado
— National semifinalists as a 2022 senior for the Campbell Trophy, Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year and Wuerffel Trophy honors
— A preseason All-Pac-12 third-team (Athlon), fourth-team (Phil Steele) and honorable mention (Pac-12 Media) selection, as well as a member of the preseason Rimington Trophy and Wuerffel Trophy watch lists prior to his 2022 senior campaign
— Started the first three games as a 2022 senior at center before moving to the starter at right guard for the fourth game of the season when Cal responded with seven offensive touchdowns, 49 points, 599 yards of total offense and 354 rushing yards in a 49-31 victory over Arizona
— The seven offensive touchdowns against Arizona were Cal's most since also picking up seven against Texas on Sept. 17, 2016, while its' 49 points were its most since a 49-7 victory at Oregon State on Oct. 20, 2018, 354 team rushing yards its most since running for a school-record 431 against Washington on Dec. 6, 2008, and 599 yards of total offense its most since picking up 636 at Stanford on Nov. 20, 2021
— Played a key role in helping Jaydn Ott rewrite much of Cal's record book with Ott's performance against Arizona that included 274 yards rushing that are the third most in Cal history, the most ever by a Pac-12 freshman and the third-most in an FBS game this season with Ott also registering three rushing touchdowns on 19 carries
— Earned honorable mention All-Pac-12 honors from the league's coaches as a 2021 junior
— Helped Cal roll up over 500 yards of total offense in three contests as a 2021 junior (636 at Stanford, 534 vs. Sacramento State, 517 vs. Oregon State) and more than 200 yards rushing on four occasions (352 at Stanford, 255 vs. Oregon State, 246 vs. Sacramento State, 213 vs. Colorado)
— Helped Cal break a Big Game record as a 2021 junior with 636 total yards of offense that were its most since also compiling 636 in a double overtime home win over Oregon in 2016, while the Golden Bears' 352 rushing yards were their most since rushing for a school-record 431 against Washington on Dec. 6, 2008