Nights Before Neyland: Mike Matthews Continues Elite Tennessee Receiver Tree

2024 five-star wide receiver Mike Matthews (Lilburn, Ga.) committed to the Tennessee Volunteers on Wednesday. What does he bring to Rocky Top?

Mike Matthews is the highest-rated wide receiver to commit to Tennessee since... ever. The Georgia native chose the Vols over Clemson, Georgia, and USC, cementing that Tennessee can win premier recruitments against top programs. He began his high school career as a Power-5 safety prospect, earned Power-5 basketball offers, and now has become one of the top wide receivers in America. Matthews brings a complete profile to Knoxville, Tennessee, and has the chance to play major snaps in his first season with the team in 2024.

When Matthews arrives in January 2024 as an early enrollee, you're going to hear a lot of 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 opt to 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 breakaway speed is undeniable. Matthews recently clocked a 4.48-second 40-yard dash at an Atlanta camp and looks the part on tape. He routinely glides by Georgia 7A defenders, eating up turf with long strides downfield. Matthews has an innate understanding of how to alter his pace depending on which area of the field he's at. He can get skinny and chop his feet in the hole, but also gets maximum knee drive when working a post route to the far side of the field.

2024 WR Mike Matthews during his official visit to Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee, on June 23, 2023. (Photo courtesy of Mike Matthews)

Matthews plays for Parkview High School in Lilburn, Georgia. Parkview puts together strong seasons each year against some of the toughest opponents in America. Their offensive success was a large part of their productive 2022, and the scheme they employ is eerily similar to Tennessee's. Matthews has been working speed-outs and five-step breaks for years and should find a natural transition to the college ranks. He's gotten more productive each year of high school and will have three years in the system BEFORE he gets coached by anyone at Tennessee.

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 in's and out's 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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