Matt McGlothlin: Death of a Vol

Marvin Westwestwords

Matt McGlothlin, 36, former Tennessee defensive tackle, died during the night of April 17. He is survived by his wife, Jennifer. He was senior sales representative for MD Pharmacy in Morristown.

Ex-Vol Jayson Swain was among the first to react to news of Matt’s death.

“My heart breaks. This was a teammate who lit up the room with his personality.”

“Much too young to be gone,” said Phillip Fulmer, coach of the Volunteers when Matt was there, now athletics director at the University of Tennessee.

“He was a great young man. He earned his way at the university. Everybody appreciated what he accomplished.

“Our prayers go out to his family and friends.”

McGlothlin had an interesting football career. Tennessee didn’t find him in Richlands, Va. He found Tennessee. At Fork Union Military Academy, he met Jason Chavis, son of ex-Vol and former defensive coordinator John Chavis. Jason brought Matt to a Tennessee game. A hundred thousand fans in Neyland Stadium told him that was where he wanted to be. Fulmer said OK.

Matt started a couple of games as a redshirt freshman in 2003. He became a regular on the 2006 team that went 9-4, defeated Alabama and Georgia, and lost to Penn State in the Outback Bowl. That group included Jered Mayo, Aaron Sears, Robert Meachem, James Wilhoit and Erik Ainge.

McGlothlin was honored as the Volunteer who entered school as a non-scholarship player and contributed greatly to team success during his career. The outstanding student earned a UT degree in kinesiology, signed an undrafted free agent contract with the Kansas City Chiefs, didn’t make it in pro football and went back to school.

He spent four years at Lincoln Memorial University studying medical clinical sciences. He was selected to tutor other med students while attending school. He created online videos for students preparing for the U.S. medical licensing exam. He was wrote a book called “Clinical Concepts with Clinical Correlations.”

He became a specialty salesman. His customers included family doctors, neurologists and orthopedic surgeons. He could speak their language.

Memorial plans are incomplete.

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