Tennessee Football: Mike Matthews Returns to the Vols

That decision stung for just about the whole fan base in Knoxville. Why you may ask? Well for starters, it was a long, drawn-out recruiting battle that came down to the very last minute with him choosing the Vols over Clemson, USC, and the hometown Georgia Bulldogs. He was a top three to five wide receiver prospect, who was wanted by everyone. Secondly, he came in during the spring and showed exactly why he was that highly recruited up until he got injured, which set him back for fall camp.

Lastly, the wide receiver room along with the production simply was not up to par. Only Senior Dont'e Thornton had over 500 yards and five touchdowns last season. Bru McCoy, the second-leading receiver is also out of eligibility, and third-leading receiver Squirrel White also entered the portal. Tennessee's pass game has been somewhat down since Josh Heupel took over in 2021, but especially since 2022 when Hendon Hooker led them to an Orange Bowl Victory. To take the Big Orange Rebuild a step further, Tennessee needs more of a passing attack.

With Matthews back in the fold along with numerous others transferring, he is by far the best wideout in the room, and should get as many targets as he wants. Yes, the Vols have been one of the best-rushing teams since 2021, but the balance needs to come back, especially without Dylan Sampson in 2025. With Nico Iamaleava still at the helm, I expect to see the explosive offense from 2021-2022 back with Matthews leading the charge.

In 10 games, Matthews finished with seven receptions, 90 yards, and a pair of touchdowns. Those numbers are sure to be higher next year.