Tennessee Volunteers WR Mike Matthews reportedly plans to enter the transfer portal, but that decision is far from final. We break down the latest news from Rocky Top and offer five landing spots if the former five-star recruit does join the mass exodus.
Where Will Mike Matthews Transfer?
Here’s where we stand. Matthews requested his transfer paperwork on Saturday night, Dec. 28. Players have until 11:59 p.m. local time to submit their names into the portal. However, Matthews won’t officially be in the portal until Monday, Dec. 30, meaning Tennessee has time to sway his decision.
There has also been some smoke that Matthews’ wavering stemmed from uncertainty surrounding starting QB Nico Iamaleava’s transfer status, but he ultimately didn’t enter his name into the portal.
Of course, NIL money could also be an issue, as it seemingly was for fellow true freshman CB Boo Carter, who announced he was staying in Knoxville amid transfer rumors.
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But from this point on, we’ll presume Matthews is indeed departing the program, joining Tennessee WRs Kaleb Webb, Squirrel White, Nathan Leacock, Chas Nimrod, and Nate Spillman in the portal.
With Bru McCoy and Dont’e Thornton Jr. off to the NFL Draft, the Vols have just two returning scholarship players at the position: Chris Brazzell and Braylon Staley. But that’s for head coach Josh Heupel and Co. to figure out.
Matthews played in 10 games and caught seven passes for 90 yards and two touchdowns in his debut season. The 6’1″, 197-pound WR was a consensus top-50 player in the 2024 recruiting class and likely expects to feature in his next offense. So, which programs could best utilize the Lilburn, Ga., native?
USC Trojans
No more Zachariah Branch, Duce Robinson, or Kyron Hudson. Who will Jayden Maiava (or whoever starts under center) throw to next year?
Well, leading WRs Makai Lemon and Ja’Kobi Lane will be back. Yes, losing those three depth pieces will hurt, but let’s not act like the WRs 3/4/5 are irreplaceable on the depth chart. With Lemon occupying the slot, Matthews could start on the boundary in Lincoln Riley’s pass-happy attack.
Georgia Bulldogs
We’ve seen the Georgia Bulldogs without top-tier WR talent — ask Carson Beck how that went for his draft stock. Kirby Smart is focused on a national championship run, but he won’t let talent — in his state, no less — slip through his fingers at a position of need.
Clemson Tigers
Yes, the Clemson Tigers already have two WRs from the 2024 recruiting class in T.J. Moore and Bryant Wesco Jr. Yet, Moore and leading WR Antonion Williams struggled with drops, and Wesco only hauled in 56% of his targets.
Cade Klubnik could use another well-built pass catcher on the outside, and Dabo Swinney has apparently kicked his anti-transfer tendency. It also helps that the Tigers were in Matthews’ final four as a high school recruit.
Michigan Wolverines
The Michigan Wolverines’ offense can only improve from their standing in 2024. Fresno State’s Mikey Keene and five-star recruit Bryce Underwood feature in the new-look QB room, and Indiana’s 6’5″ skywalker, Donaven McCulley, was the team’s first WR transfer.
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It wasn’t all on the QBs last year, as the pass catchers not named Colston Loveland struggled to create any meaningful separation. Well, Loveland is off to the NFL, and leading WR Tyler Morris (23-248-2 receiving line in 2024) has entered the portal. Expect HC Sherrone Moore to do all he can to land a WR of Matthews’ talent.
Louisville Cardinals
When the USC Trojans made Matthews’ final four, Miller Moss was the projected starting QB. Now he’s with the Louisville Cardinals — could the two finally unite? Head coach Jeff Brohm knows a thing or two about landing talent via the portal, and he’ll need some WR reinforcements with WR1 Ja’Corey Brooks off to the NFL.
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