An interesting wrinkle, thanks to the transfer portal.
Suddenly, true freshman Mike Matthews is set for an expanded role in the biggest spot of the entire season. The former five-star prospect has flashed here and there this season for Tennessee, most recently with a touchdown catch against Vanderbilt.
Now, thanks to the horrific timing of the transfer portal window, he’s been bumped up a few notches on the depth chart. Tennessee saw reserve receivers Chas Nimrod, Kaleb Webb, Nathan Lecock and Nate Spillman hit the transfer portal over the last couple of weeks. In particular, Webb and Nimrod leaving really hurts the Vols’ depth as they head into Columbus.
Josh Heupel confirmed on Tuesday that none of the players who have entered the transfer portal will be available to play in Columbus.
“Obviously the calendar, the way that it’s set up, it’s unique,” Heupel said. “This might be the only sport that operates this way where the transfer portal, free agency — whatever you want to call it — is right in the middle of your postseason play, but we do feel like the roster is set. This group’s ready to go compete and ready to prepare the right way.”
Tennessee remaining scholarship wide receivers
Dont’e Thornton
Bru McCoy
Squirrel White
Chris Brazzell
Mike Matthews
Braylon Staley
It’s worth noting that the top three receivers on this list each were fighting injury situations against Vanderbilt. Squirrel White was seen in a sling following the game, Dont’e Thornton was in and out of the lineup throughout the game and Bru McCoy didn’t play after aggravating an injury during warmups.
They’ve each had three weeks off to heal, but Tennessee has since lost some key depth. All of this sets up for us to see plenty of Mike Matthews on Saturday night.
“We fully intend on Mike being a big part of everything we’re doing,” Josh Heupel said this week. “It’s the same thing now. If this goes the way you want it to go, you’ve got four games left. You’ve got a quarter of a season left to play right here. All those guys that are here and going, we expect them to play at high level. We feel comfortable throwing anybody out there. Our guys are prepared and ready to play, and they’re dang good players. Anybody that’s called upon, we expect that they go out and they play at a high level. We expect to see that here every week.”
Matthews has seven catches on the season for 90 yards with two touchdowns.
Even further down the depth chart sits Braylon Staley, a true freshman and former four-star prospect. Staley has just one catch on the year, which came against UTEP in mop-up duty. It wouldn’t take much for Staley to be forced into action this weekend with just six scholarship receivers on the depth chart.
“Braylon’s done a great job,” Heupel said. “A young player that just has continued to grow through the winter, through the spring, through the summer. More opportunities, chose to play him in four, keep the redshirt, but he’s more than ready to go play in this one.”
Tennessee has gone with two tight end looks quite a bit this season, which has been a new wrinkle from Heupel and Joey Halzle. Just based on the available personnel alone, it’s a good bet that you’ll see plenty of that look in Columbus. These freshman receivers are definitely a storyline to follow, though.