Mid-year transfer from Presbyterian got acclimated to the program by participating in offseason conditioning and spring practice ... will add valuable depth to the defensive front and could compete for significant playing time in the fall ... has not played since 2010 so is eligible immediately despite transferring from another NCAA Division I institution mid-year ... has two seasons of eligibility remaining.

Previous College: Played at Presbyterian College as a freshman and sophomore in 2009 and 2010.

High School: Was an all-conference selection as a senior at Broughton H.S. in Raleigh ... recorded more than 120 tackles in final prep campaign ... won team’s Front 7 award ... two-year letterwinner ... coached by Chris Martin ... also lettered in track and field.

Personal: Full name is Matthew Alexander Roper ... born Feb. 19, 1991 (21 years old) ... son of Sue and Wayne Roper ... father, Wayne, swam at East Carolina ... is active in Campus Crusade for Christ and Theta Chi fraternity ... enjoys golf ... majoring in business psychology ... plans to attend graduate school.