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Tennessee WR Mike Matthews tells On3 he's entering the transfer portal

On3 imageby:Brent Hubbs•12/28/24•

Brent_Hubbs

WR Mike Matthews

A year ago wide receiver Mike Matthews was one of Tennessee’s prized signees in the 2024 class. Saturday, Matthews told On3’s Hayes Fawcett that he plans to enter the transfer portal.

Mike Matthews requested his paperwork to enter the portal, but will need to fill it out and turn it in to begin the 48 hour rule a school has to place the player in the portal.

Matthews generated a lot of buzz in spring practice, but was saddled with a hamstring injury in fall camp that set him back. Matthews, playing catch up all season, found himself in a limited role with limited opportunities. 

Matthews played in 11 games and had just 7 receptions for 90 yards and two touchdowns. All total, Matthews played 199 snaps this season. 

Understanding the portal

The winter transfer portal window runs from December 9-28. The spring portal window runs from April 16-25.

Players don’t have to pick a school they are going to during those specific dates but those are the span of dates on when a player can enter the portal.

Those dates don’t apply to graduate transfers who can enter the portal whenever they wish. Also, if there’s a head coaching change, their players are granted an immediate 30-day window during which they can enter the portal. 

Of note, any team playing in a game after Dec 28 (playoffs or regular bowl) gets a five-day window once season ends for those player to enter portal.

So, say a team loses in the CFP first round on Dec 20/21? Their transfer portal window wouldn’t be affected as the regular window ends more than five days after that loss.

Players who enter the portal in the winter window are trying to be somewhere for the spring semester. 

For Tennessee the spring semester starts on January 21 which is late compared to many schools around the country. Tennessee a year ago started a winter mini-term class that runs the first three weeks of January. 

Vols have benefitted from the portal

The transfer portal can giveth and it can taketh away. For Josh Heupel it’s been much more of a positive than a negative for the Vols when you look at the 2024 season. 

Left tackle Lance Heard has been a fixture on an offense line that has helped the Vols rush for over 2700 yards. Tight end Miles Kitselman has been a terrific portal grab because he is the leader of the tight end room. A room that also includes transfer Holden Staes. 

Defensively, Jermod McCoy was the Vols best defensive transfer

In total, Tennessee added 10 transfers for the current 2024 roster. 

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