The Tennessee Vols saw their offense take a step back last season with Hendon Hooker, Jalin Hyatt, and Cedric Tillman all heading to the NFL after the fantastic 2022 season. And a slight step back was to be expected given that all three players were Round 3 NFL Draft picks. But this spring the offense looks like it's taking huge leaps forward already. That's largely in part to Nico Iamaleava looking like the real deal already, but the wide receivers are looking special too
Star Freshman Vols WR Impressing Early
One wide receiver in particular continues to stand out this spring, and it's not a name everyone might expect. After Tennessee football held their second scrimmage late last week, Josh Heupel went out of his way to tout true freshman early enrollee Mike Matthews for the second time in less than a week.
Matthews has been given expanded opportunities all spring long since Bru McCoy is still recovering from his surgery and Squirrel White was frankly the only returning proven productive veteran in the receiver room. Every single chance he's been given he just keeps making plays. In fact, his fellow wide receiver Dont'e Thornton went as far as to say this about Mike Matthews late last week:
"He's very explosive, so once he gets the speed of the game and then learns the playbook, he's going to be unstoppable."
"Unstoppable." It's been quite some time since the Vols had a receiver that fit that bill (outside of Jalin Hyatt against Alabama).
Tennessee Football hasn't been a stranger to recruiting five star recruits like Mike Matthews in the past, but his immediate dominant impact this spring feels different. Justin Hunter and Cordarrelle Patterson were both highly touted recruits. But it took both of them multiple years to truly "breakout" for the Vols. The same can be said for many of the top Vols recruits in the past. Given Matthews' quick impressive ascension this spring there's a real chance he's their next speedy Jalin Hyatt, but perhaps as soon as year one, instead of year three.
Other Standout Vols Wide Receivers
Matthews' 4.4-second forty-yard dash speed, physical style of play stemming from his basketball background, and immediate flash plays are incredibly promising by themselves, but another trio of receivers keep making plays according to Kelsey Pope, the Vols wide receivers coach too.
Squirrel White and Dont'e Thornton are the best two returning stars who keep wowing this spring. Fans are familiar with them. But Tulane transfer, Chris Brazzell has been turning heads too. Thornton heaped high praise on him specifically last week:
"Chris is a playmaker...if a ball comes to him, he's going to catch it no matter how he needs to."
Multiple coaches and wide receiver Squirrel White spoke highly of the new transfer as well.
If Brazzell, White, Thornton, and Matthews all keep stepping up big and McCoy comes back healthy the Volunteers may have one of the deepest wide receiver rooms in the nation this fall.
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And if you want to check out some of Mike Matthews' senior season highlights to get a taste of what he brings to Tennessee you can watch this video below!
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