Florida in Top Two for TE Walter Matthews

The Gators will host tight end prospect Walter Matthews, who is down to Florida and Southern California, on an official visit in June.

Florida is one of two schools standing atop Hiram (Ga.) High 2024 tight end Walter Matthews' recruitment, the talented pass-catcher told Brooks Austin of FanNation on Friday.  

Southern California joins Florida among Matthews' contending programs at this time. He plans to officially visit both schools in June, first heading west to Los Angeles, Calif. from June 2-4 then south to Gainesville, Fla. for the weekend of June 9. 

Matthews picked up an offer from Florida in June 2022 with former tight ends coach William Peagler proverbially running point on his recruitment. 

Despite Peagler's February move to the NFL as an assistant, no love has been lost between Matthews and the Gators as Russ Callaway — who was promoted from an analyst role to tight ends coach in March — picked the recruitment up right where Peagler left it. 

"It's still really good," Matthews said about his relationship with Florida's coaching staff. "It's still the same as it was before [Peagler] left and was replaced. 

"They really want me. You know, I like being around coach Callaway. He's like a guru since he's been an analyst. He knows how to gameplan properly." 

Florida has cast a wide net at the tight end position in the class of 2024 after going without signing one in the class of 2023, instead welcoming class of 2022 signee Tony Livingston with a grayshirt. The Gators have offered double-digit such prospects and Matthews has emerged as a priority target among those players.  

Matthews is considered the No. 7 tight end and No. 115 overall prospect in the 2024 cycle, according to the 247Sports composite rankings. He posted 20 receptions for 425 yards and eight touchdowns for Hiram as a junior. 

The Trojans stand out to Matthews, as well, primarily as a result of the offense head coach Lincoln Riley brought to the program last year. Similar to his scheme at Oklahoma, Riley demonstrated his use of athletic tight ends in the passing game during Matthews' April visit to USC. 

"I like Lincoln Riley's offense, I like his scheme," Matthews explained. "I really liked the conversation that me and my dad had with him when I was on campus.

"They spread it out. I'm gonna get touches. When they have a good tight end, they will get the ball. When he coached at Oklahoma and Mark Andrews was there, he got around like 60 receptions that year, so I think Lincoln Riley will get the tight end the ball if he earns it." 

Matthews hopes to reach his college decision before his senior season at Hiram kicks off. 

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