Matt Kroul was a product of Mount Vernon HS and went on to star as a defensive lineman for the Iowa Hawkeyes. During his Iowa Hawkeye career, Kroul earned All-Big Ten honors as a Defensive Lineman where he consecutively started all 50 games of his collegiate career setting an Iowa and Big Ten Conference record. Additional accolades included 2-time All-Big Ten selection, 4-year starter, Defensive Team Captain as a senior and named 3-time Academic All-Big Ten.

Following his Iowa career, Kroul was signed as a free agent by the New York Jets in 2009 and was eventually converted from defense to offensive guard.  After 4 years in the National Football League (NFL) with the Jets, Matt retired from football and returned home to Iowa to work and develop the family farm. In 2019, Matt was announced as a American Needs Farmers (ANF) Wall of Honor Recipient by the University of Iowa and the Iowa Farm Bureau.