Kyler Cecil, K. Cecil Media

Together in the Trenches: The Boyce Brothers

By Jack Sacco, Media & Data Analytics Intern

It is uncommon in college football to lineup a few feet from your brother on the defensive line. Alex and Matt Boyce get to do it every game for the Washington & Jefferson College Presidents.

It’s special.

The pair help anchor a defense that has recorded three shutouts and allowed seven points total over the last four games. Alex, a 6-0, 250-pound sophomore, leads the unit in sacks. Matt, a 6-1, 275-pound sophomore, plugs the middle as the starting nose tackle.

It was unlikely either would end up at W&J, let alone together.

Coming out of Seton-LaSalle High School in the summer of 2022, older brother Alex looked to get his start in college football at West Virginia University. After he tried to work his way onto the Mountaineers’ roster, Alex decided he was going to leave ahead of the 2023-24 season and transfer to Alderson Broaddus University. The school closed shortly before he was to arrive for fall camp.

“That was crazy, with them closing down, literally two days before camp,” Alex Boyce said.

His next move was to go to Fairmont State for the 2024-25 season, alongside his younger brother Matt, who had committed there out of South Fayette High School. Once again, big news came late in the summer.

“The coaching staff that recruited us there ended up leaving right when we got there,” Alex said. “Two weeks into my time at Fairmont I blew my shoulder out and had to get surgery. So, over three years, I played about two weeks of football, collectively.”

Matt’s experience under the new staff was not much smoother.

“We got a completely new staff,” Matt said. “The new coach did not recruit guys my size to play defensive line. They moved me to Mike linebacker, which didn’t work out great.”

Between the staff change, Alex’s injury and an emergency appendectomy for Matt early in the season, it was clear things were not going to work out at Fairmont State. The brothers entered the transfer portal together, and W&J head coach Mike Sirianni, who had both on his radar for years, reached out.

“I was getting college coaches calling me, and we were talking about football and schematics. Then Coach Sirianni calls me and the first thing he did was poke fun at me for transferring a bunch of times,” Alex said. “So, I thought you know what, this is different.”

Matt felt the same.

“We both came on the same visit together. Obviously, we both had two different recruiting paths. (Alex) was a little more sought after out of the portal because he had more film,” Matt said. “It was a mutual decision of coming here together and trying to prove that we were good football players.”

Both brothers played in rotational roles on the defensive line last season. This year, they stepped into starting spots following the graduation of Aidan Thomas ‘26 and Tyler Primrose ‘26.

“I had never really played interior D-line before in my life. So, between (defensive line coach Mark DeRosa) and those two, they really helped me out, and they really taught me a lot,” Alex said. “Playing that rotational role is different than being a starter, but they talked to me like I was a starter and they gave me insight into playing the position.”

Though only in their second seasons at W&J, the Boyces have already embraced the leadership that comes with being part of a deep position group.

“They’re already mentoring the young interior guys,” said DeRosa. “When they see a mistake, they’ll take it upon themselves to go over and say, ‘hey, your hand placement was off and this was off, try to do it this way.’ They’ve already stepped up.”

They have the advantage of being flanked by an accomplished duo: senior edge rushers Nathaniel Kadosh-Harris and Antoine Smith. Both earned All-PAC honors in 2025, and Smith also earned Third Team All-Region 2 honors from D3football.com.

Statistically, Alex is having a season on par with what the edge pair posted last year. He has 5.5 sacks, 7.5 tackles for loss, an interception and a forced fumble. He earned PAC Defensive Player of the Week after his performance against Keystone, before his performances against Case Western Reserve and Geneva earned him a spot on D3football.com Team of the Week in consecutive weeks. He credits the whole unit.

“I’ve been very grateful and blessed for the accolades and the stats these past five games,” Alex said. “I’m just the one getting one-on-ones. My brother’s getting double teamed. Nate (Kadosh-Harris) is getting everyone’s attention. Antoine on the other side is getting everyone’s attention.”

Alex Boyce Defensive Player of the Week (9/14/26)

As the team’s starting nose tackle, Matt doesn’t have as many chances to rack up gaudy numbers. His job is to eat up double teams and stop the run. It has been a different experience for him, but one that has worked out.

“It’s not a glamorous role but I enjoy it,” Matt said. “I bulked up 40 pounds since last year, which working with (strength and conditioning coach Nate Morgret), was a seamless transition. I had a good buffer stage where I went from a mike to a D-end, to an interior, so I was able to ease into it.”

DeRosa believes Matt has been just as important as the other star linemen.

“Antoine, Nate, and Alex are all getting stats and awards, but Matt is playing as well as any of them. He’s taking double teams so linebackers Brock Sherman and Nico Mauro can fill gaps and make plays. He’s not getting knocked off the football. On a lot of these sacks, Matt’s setting a pick while somebody comes free. He’s been very unselfish,” DeRosa said.

Defensive coordinator Phil Bobich ‘19 sees the brothers as a key piece in a defense that is more than the sum of its parts.

“They’ve done a really good job embracing their roles and starring in them,” Bobich said. “The combination of their speed and strength is what makes them special. Whether they’re the ones making the plays or taking on the double teams to free others up. Everyone has done an excellent job as a unit, playing together as one.”

The brothers credit the coaching staff’s family-oriented approach for their personal and team success, and for how easily two brothers fit in.

“You come to W&J and you really feel like it’s a family,” Alex said. “All the coaches care about you and there’s a strong relationship there. These are guys that have made it feel like home for me, and that just isn’t something I’ve ever had before.”