Tennessee Football: Vols Land 5-Star Mike Matthews

Josh Heupel and Tennessee have landed a big commitment in their 2024 class from five-star receiver Mike Matthews out of Parkview High School in Lilburn, GA on Wednesday, July 19th.

The 6’1, 180 pound Matthews is ranked as the #13 player in the class according to the 247Sports Composite. He is also the #4 receiver and the #3 player in the state of Georgia.

Matthews is listed as a receiver on some recruiting sites, but is listed as an ATH on others as he plays both receiver and safety for Parkview. However, the belief is that Matthews will play receiver at Tennessee.

This past year at Parkview, Matthews had 48 catches, 1,031 receiving yards, and 10 TD’s on offense as a junior, while also making 23 tackles and grabbing two interceptions on defense.

Tennessee Lands Five-Star Receiver Mike Matthews

Matthews is a speedster who plays multiple sports (also plays basketball and runs track). He is a high-level athlete, as showcased by his ability to play both ways at a high level for a 7A school in Georgia and Matthews is a very good basketball player as well. Matthews might need to add some size at the next level, but there are not many players as fast and athletic as Matthews is, as evidenced by his five-star status. His speed can be a difference-maker, especially in the Vols offense.

Matthews chose Tennessee over three other finalists in Clemson, Georgia, and USC.

It is understandable why a highly ranked receiver would want to head to Tennessee, who had arguably the top offense in the nation in 2022 under offensive guru Josh Heupel. Tennessee led the nation in scoring last year at 46.1 points per game. The Vols also led the nation in total offense (averaged 525.5 yards per game) and were fifth in passing offense (326.1 yards per game).

Tennessee’s 2024 class ranked 15th in the nation (and sixth in the SEC) before Matthew’s commitment. Matthews is the Vols first five-star of the class so far. The group currently features 11 four-stars and five three-stars (now 17 total commitments).

Matthews joins a Tennessee pass-catcher group in the 2024 class that includes four-star receiver Braylon Staley and four-star athlete Jonathan Echols (Echols plays both tight end and EDGE, but is expected to play TE at the next level). Tennessee also has commitments from two other top ATH’s in the class in four-stars Boo Carter (plays DB and both RB and receiver on offense) and Marcus Goree Jr. (plays receiver and corner) who could both end up as pass-catchers as well.

Tennessee also signed several strong pass-catchers in the class of 2023 in four-star WR Nathan Leacock (#73 overall player, #13 WR) and four-star TE Ethan Davis (#143 overall player, #7 TE), as well as Oregon transfer Dont’e Thornton Jr. from the portal. Tennessee also brought in talented USC transfer Bru McCoy in the class of 2022.

However, Matthews is arguably the most talented of the group of receivers brought in under Heupel (out of high school at least). Matthews is the highest rated WR recruit Tennessee has signed in the 247Sports era and is their ninth highest rated recruit overall in the same era.

While we will have to wait to see exactly how the career of Mike Matthews on Rocky Top goes, this is a major recruiting win for Heupel and the Vols.