Tennessee wide receiver Mike Matthews, a former five-star recruit, plans to enter the transfer portal, according to multiple reports.
Matthews is the sixth UT receiver to enter the portal in December, joining Squirrel White, Kaleb Webb, Chas Nimrod, Nathan Leacock and walk-on Nate Spillman.
The Vols will replace all three starting wide receivers in 2025 with White entering the portal and Bru McCoy and Dont’e Thornton exhausting their eligibility. Matthews was projected as an essential replacement in the starting lineup, but now he also must be replaced.
UT has only two wide receivers returning for the 2025 season and three freshmen joining the roster.
Chris Brazzell had 29 receptions for 333 yards and two TDs after transferring from Tulane a year ago. Braylon Staley had three catches for 21 yards in four games as a freshman, and he took a redshirt.
Wide receivers Joakim Dodson, Radarious Jackson and Travis Smith signed with the Vols in the 2025 class.
Mike Matthews played little, but his role was about to expand
Matthews was ranked the No. 6 wide receiver in the 2024 class, according to 247Sports Composite. But he had a limited role as a freshman behind UT’s veteran receivers.
Matthews had seven receptions for 90 yards and two touchdowns in 11 games. But his playing time increased late in the season. He played 107 snaps in UT’s final three games.
Matthews is a 6-foot-1, 197-pounder from Lilburn, Georgia. He was ranked the No. 24 player overall in the 2024 class and UT’s highest-rated offensive signee.
