If there’s one player that you should be following during training camp storylines this spring, look no further than a promising rising sophomore on the Tennessee offense.
Wide receiver Mike Matthews is poised for an elevated role with the Vols’ offense during the 2025 season after all the turnover that Tennessee had at the position this offseason. Dont’e Thornton and Bru McCoy are preparing for professional football while four rotational receivers and former starter Squirrel White all left through the portal.
As Josh Heupel said about the position group at the start of spring camp on Friday, “Opportunity exists.”
During his freshman season, the former five-star prospect saw action in 11 games as a backup receiver and hauled in seven receptions for 90 yards and a touchdown in that span. But with Tennessee needing a playmaker to emerge at the position for quarterback Nico Iamaleava this offseason, Matthews is one of the top candidates on the board to make that jump.
“Yeah, Mike’s had a really good offseason, just physically continuing to grow into his frame,” Heupel said of Matthews on Friday. “You know, he’s as healthy as he’s been right now (in) a long time. Just during the course of the fall, kind of got nicked up early, late in the summer. Kind of re-injured himself a little bit in (fall) training camp and kind of fought through the injury bug a little during the course of the season.”
Tennessee will return former starter Chris Brazzell on the outside in 2025 but Matthews has a good case for the spot on the opposite side of the field. Matthews’ versatility could see him move around the field, too, depending on how Heupel and his staff want to use him. Spring ball will be a good chance for a now-healthy Matthews to showcase his talents with opportunity on the table.
“In year two for him, growth of control in his mind, how he approaches everything every day, he has really matured in a really good way,” Heupel continued on to say. “And so I’m excited about what he’s done up until this point in the offseason, but really like what he did today on the practice field. We have high hopes and expectations for him.”
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Optimism has stayed high since Matthews’ arrival to the Tennessee program. The Vols’ coaching staff complimented Matthews’ work ethic last season despite not being in the full-time rotation.
“Mike, he has flashed at times,” Tennessee WR coach Kelsey Pope said about Matthews last October. “He’s got a really bright future here. I think a lot of stuff comes with experience, right? Like, (being a) freshman in this league is hard. There’s growing pains in this league. I think as long as he continues to do what he’s doing, he’s staying positive, he’s working his butt off.
“I think as long as he continues to do those things, it’s only a matter of time before he starts to see the plays being made that he wants. And that’s the thing, he wants to make plays, he wants to be on the field in critical situations and he wants to get better. And his attitude as of late has been awesome and that’s what he’s working towards.”
In addition to Matthews, Tennessee will have a number of other players looking to make an impact in the receiver room this spring. Alabama transfer Amari Jefferson will sink his teeth into the Tennessee offense for the first time while rising sophomore Braylon Staley could be a good candidate for the Vols’ slot position. Another potential x-factor would be defensive back Boo Carter, who could see some two-way playing time at the position.
Mike Matthews will be one of the most-watched players during training camp this spring and Rocky Top Insider will have you covered for it all. Stay tuned to RTI for full spring camp coverage including practice observations, highlights, player notes, and more.
