Mike Matthews Makes Excellent Catch
Tennessee Volunteers wide receiver Mike Matthews is excelling during spring practices.
Tennessee Volunteers wide receiver Mike Matthews is excelling during spring practices.
Tennessee wide receiver Mike Matthews is one of the most complete pass catchers that Tennessee has signed in recent memory. The Georgia native is elite at the catch point and made plays for Parkview High School all throughout his career. He made an excellent catch during spring practices ahead of their spring game that made the rounds on social media.
When Matthews arrives in January 2024 as an early enrollee, you'll hear many comparisons to former Tennessee wide receiver Jalin Hyatt. The physical profiles are similar; Hyatt measured in at 6-0 and 185 ahead of his final season with Tennessee, while Matthews is listed at 6-1 and 180 pounds. That should reflect that he's physically ready to come in and compete - Matthews could add around ten pounds of muscle in college without losing athleticism, so it will be interesting to see if he chooses to go that route.
The most impressive thing about Matthews is his attention to detail. This is a "five-star" talent with "five-star" work ethic. He treats every rep seriously and has worked on nuancing his game over the past few years. He just recently committed to playing wide receiver in college full-time and is still learning the ins and outs of the position. While he was behind other top pass catchers in some areas, Matthews quickly closed the gap because he's a student of the game. One quote he gave in an interview with On3 resonated with me: "I want people to know you can always count on me. I want to be one of those guys. To be known for that rather than just being one of those five-star guys. I don’t really take breaks, even during the week. After practice, I’m always working and making extra effort. I’m about the effort and extra work."
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