Josh Heupel updates the progress of Tennessee freshman wide receiver Mike Matthews
Josh Heupel said Wednesday the development of Tennessee’s Mike Matthews is still taking place after the freshman wide receiver missed time during fall camp, but his playing time should continue Saturday afternoon against Alabama.
Matthews has appeared in four games this season, but has been on the field for only 26 passing snaps.
“We really like what we see out of him,” Heupel said Wednesday during his appearance on the SEC Coaches Teleconference. “He’s had a great week of preparation. Anticipate him playing in this one.”
Up Next: No. 11 Tennessee vs. No. 7 Alabama
No. 11 Tennessee (5-1, 2-1 SEC) hosts No. 7 Alabama (5-1, 2-1) in a 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time kickoff (TV: ABC) at Neyland Stadium.
Matthews played seven snaps in the 23-17 overtime win over Florida Saturday night, the same number he played in the 19-14 loss at Arkansas two weeks ago.
“(He) played a good amount early in the football game,” Heupel said, “and as the game went on, just didn’t have the same number of reps that he did early.”
Squirrel White, Bru McCoy and Dont’e Thornton were all coming off injuries suffered at Arkansas, but McCoy played 57 total snaps, White played 30 against Florida, and Thornton played seven.
Matthews was also deep to return kickoffs for Tennessee against the Gators, but didn’t bring any kicks out of the end zone.
Matthews missed time during fall camp with a hamstring injury and was held out of Tennessee’s 69-3 win over Chattanooga in the season opener on August 31, with Heupel saying after the game it was a move made in an abundance of caution.
“We just felt like for our football team,” Heupel said, “and the longevity, all of it, there were a couple guys that we held out that could have played in that one but will hold for this week.”
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Matthews headlined Tennessee’s 2024 recruiting class as a five-star wide receiver out of Lilburn, Georgia. He was ranked in the On3 Industry Ranking as the No. 26 overall player in the country. He was ranked as the No. 6 wide receiver in the class and the No. 4 overall player in the state of Georgia.
“Mike is somebody that was banged up during the course of training camp and limited a little bit of his development early in the year,” Heupel said on Wednesday.
Mike Matthews vs. Kent State: 2 catches, 35 yards, 1 TD
The most extensive playing time of the season so far for Matthews was 11 plays in the 71-0 win over Kent State on September 14. He was targeted twice, catching both for 35 yards and a touchdown.
He scored on an 18-yard pass from backup quarterback Gaston Moore with 19 seconds left in the first half, putting Tennessee up 65-0 at halftime.
Matthews caught a 63-yard touchdown pass during the Orange & White Game in April at Neyland Stadium, after enrolling early and joining the Vols in January.
“He can go up and get the ball at a high,” Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava said after the split-squad scrimmage said. “As you know, it’s rare seeing that from young guys coming in, but I think Mike Matthews, him coming in, I think we’ve expected that of him.”
