Panic mode: Canceled.
Whatever the issue was with Mike Matthews and Tennessee over the weekend has been resolved. The former five-star receiver will not enter the transfer portal after all, despite starting the process over the weekend. Matthews will return to Tennessee in 2025, according to Austin Price at VolQuest.
Matthews caught seven passes for 90 yards and two touchdowns as a true freshman. He was forced into action against both Vanderbilt and Ohio State after being buried on the depth chart for much of the season.
Matthews is expected to move into a starting role next season, set to return alongside of Chris Brazzell and slot receiver Braylon Staley. Tennessee will welcome three true freshmen from the class of 2025 this offseason and likely will still need a veteran body or two out of the transfer portal.
Tennessee struggled at receiver for much of the year. Nico Iamaleava had struggles of his own, but he wasn’t exactly helped by the performance of his receiving core. Drops, a lack of separation and frankly some vanilla play-calling at times seemed to hold back the offense this season. Tennessee is hoping that the talent of the former five-star Matthews can help alleviate that.
Bru McCoy, Dont’e Thornton, Squirrel White, Kaleb Webb, Chas Nimrod, Nathan Leacock and Nate Spillman have all exited the program. New blood will be all over the place next season in the Tennessee offense, including four new starters on the offensive line and a backfield that will be without Dylan Sampson.
Keeping Matthews around was a nice first win for Heupel and his staff though. Now it’s time to add more pieces and give Iamaleava a couple more weapons.