Bayron Matos’ journey through sports has been untraditional – and that’s putting it lightly. 

Not only is Matos an international student, but he’s also a dual-sport athlete. He played college basketball at USF before switching to football.

Now – after training with the NFL’s International Player Program (IPP)– he might be ready for the next step, playing professional football. 

Matos, 23, hails from the Dominican Republic. He played baseball as a kid – the nation’s most popular sport – before moving to the United States at age 16 to pursue basketball.

Related: Bayron Matos: A strong force with a proficient work ethic

He played a season of college basketball at New Mexico before transferring to USF – playing in 28 games as a forward during the 2021-2022 season. 

Then, he decided to give football a try. 

In the spring of 2022, he walked onto the USF football team, putting on a helmet and pads for the first time in his life. Despite practicing as a defensive and offensive lineman, he never saw game action.

Matos entered the transfer portal in 2023 and never landed with another program, yet his pro football hopes never went anywhere. 

Related: Former USF football players perform in front of NFL scouts during Pro Day

After being selected to join the International Player Program in January, Matos has since been training at IMG Academy in hopes of expanding and refining his skill set for NFL scouts. 

The IPP is a program that gives international athletes a chance to compete in the NFL, and is designed to increase the representation of foreign-born athletes in the profession. 

The Class of 2024 featured 16 players from across the globe, including Matos. The athletes then were able to showcase their talents during USF’s Pro Day on March 21. 

“You’ve got guys coming around from every part of the [world] that have never played football before, ” he said about the IPP. “We have ten weeks to get ready for this day. It’s been pretty intense.” 

It’s easy to see why Matos is seen as a sleeper NFL draft prospect. 

He boasts a mountainous frame, standing 6-feet-9 inches tall and weighing in at 290 pounds. 

Matos – who is working out as an offensive lineman –  also ran a 4.88-second 40-yard dash during his pro day at USF. If he had performed at the NFL combine, that would’ve been the fastest time in his positional group. 

Related: USF’s NFL Draft drought could end this year

IPP consultant Scott Pioli raved about Matos’ football intangibles in an NFL article on March 18. 

“Matos has picked up specific offensive line movements quicker than most and is making remarkable strides,” Pioli said. “He is smooth, with good foot/hand coordination, and possesses rare punch explosion.” 

Pioli also said that he “wouldn’t be surprised” to hear Matos’ name called during Day 3 of the draft – the selection for rounds four through seven. 

Matos has already gained the eye of professional scouts. According to a post on his X account, he has worked out for the Arizona Cardinals, Denver Broncos, Jacksonville Jaguars and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 

International prospects in the NFL used to be a novelty – now, they’re gaining traction. 

18 former IPP athletes are currently on professional rosters, including Philadelphia Eagles offensive lineman Jordan Mailata. 

Mailata – a former rugby player from Australia –  was a raw prospect who garnered significant attention after his Pro Day. In 2018, he was drafted by the Eagles in the seventh round. 

Now he’s one of the highest paid offensive lineman in the NFL. 

Matos could be a similar story. 

“I’ve been working really hard to get to the next level,” he said. “There’s a lot of stuff we have to do, we’re not in college anymore.” 

The 2024 NFL Draft will be held April 25-27 and broadcast on ESPN and ABC.