Tennessee football wide receiver Mike Matthews plans to stay with the Vols in 2025 rather than enter the transfer portal.
On Dec. 28, Matthews decided to enter the portal. That was the deadline to request paperwork to enter the portal, but he never appeared in the database.
Matthews was ranked the No. 6 wide receiver in the 2024 class, according to 247Sports Composite. But he had a limited role as a freshman behind UT’s veteran receivers in 2024. He had seven receptions for 90 yards and two touchdowns in 11 games.
Who are Tennessee’s wide receivers in 2025?
Matthews projects to be a go-to receiver for quarterback Nico Iamaleava in the 2025 season, but the Vols must still reload the receiving corps through the portal.
UT will replace all three starting wide receivers with White entering the portal and Bru McCoy and Dont’e Thornton exhausting their eligibility.
TENNESSEE TRANSFER TRACKERWho’s leaving Vols from 2024 team
Chris Brazzell is also back in 2025. He had 29 receptions for 333 yards and two TDs after transferring from Tulane a year ago. Braylon Staley had three catches for 21 yards in four games as a freshman, and he took a redshirt.
Wide receivers Joakim Dodson, Radarious Jackson and Travis Smith signed with the Vols in the 2025 class.
Matthews, a former five-star recruit, decided to remain on the roster. It’s a big boost for the Vols, who already have lost five wide receivers to the portal: Squirrel White, Kaleb Webb, Chas Nimrod, Nathan Leacock and walk-on Nate Spillman.
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