'24 GA WR Mike Matthews (Tennessee)

[Memphisvol87]

We’ve had a lot of inconsistencies in pass game between joe and receivers. Some of these drops, especially by Keyton have really hurt us. Some of joes nukes that would be easy touch downs have hurt us too. It’s routine stuff that we haven’t been consistent at. It’s amazing how many difficult catches we’ve completed and how many routine throws get dropped or nuked.

 

[Vols2DaWall]

Hopefully Bru is back. He, Squirrel, Matthews and a big time lower school portal guy could be good.

Getting Bru back would be enormous

 

[JCVol00]

Getting Bru back would be enormous

The way he worded this makes it sound like hes planning on coming back

 

[MarcoVol]

Webb has not looked that impressive so far. We’re losing Keyton. Thornton just needs to be shown the door. We’re going to be young at WR next year.

Matthews has a skill set that currently no receiver on our roster possesses. If Matthews isn’t ready to contribute on Day 1, I’ll have concerns about our player development. He shouldn’t need 1-2 years to learn. He has elite tools and needs to play the moment he gets here.

Just so I’m tracking…. you’d be concerned about development but not give him time to develop?

 

[TheMookieMonster]

Just so I’m tracking…. you’d be concerned about development but not give him time to develop?

Why is it that TN is one of the only places where our 5-stars need 1-2 years to develop before they can play? As I said, the film shows that Matthews has elite tools that no other receiver on our roster outside of maybe Squirrel has currently. I’m not saying he needs to be Option #1 next year, but if he isn’t a contributor at all that’s concerning.

 

[MarcoVol]

Why is it that TN is one of the only places where our 5-stars need 1-2 years to develop before they can play? As I said, the film shows that Matthews has elite tools that no other receiver on our roster outside of maybe Squirrel has currently. I’m not saying he needs to be Option #1 next year, but if he isn’t a contributor at all that’s concerning.

So you’d have a problem with personnel decisions, not development.

 

[TheMookieMonster]

So you’d have a problem with personnel decisions, not development.

Those are intertwined for the most part.

 

[SugarCC]

Why is it that TN is one of the only places where our 5-stars need 1-2 years to develop before they can play? As I said, the film shows that Matthews has elite tools that no other receiver on our roster outside of maybe Squirrel has currently. I’m not saying he needs to be Option #1 next year, but if he isn’t a contributor at all that’s concerning.

Marvin Harrison Jr caught 11 passes his Fr year. I bet they were concerned to hell and back about him and his development.

 

[TheMookieMonster]

Marvin Harrison Jr caught 11 passes his Fr year. I bet they were concerned to hell and back about him and his development.

Probably because the entire receiving corps for Ohio State is is filled with 5-stars. Not exactly comparing apples to oranges comparing the talent in our room with theirs.

 

[TrippieRedd]

Probably because the entire receiving corps for Ohio State is is filled with 5-stars. Not exactly comparing apples to oranges comparing the talent in our room with theirs.

Using On3 rankings

Marvin - Ranked 73
Fleming - Ranked 3
Eg - Ranked 15
Tate - Ranked 41
Ballard - Ranked 85
Johnson - Ranked 807
= 170.6 average


McCoy - Ranked 19
Nimrod - Ranked 418
Keyton - Ranked 94
White - Ranked 371
Webb - Ranked 217
Thornton - Ranked 71
= 198.3 average



Not too much of a talent gap, but I get your point


Keyton - 301 yards
White - 416 yards
McCoy - 217 yards

Fleming - 171 yards
Emeka - 303 yards
Harrison - 766 yards


Once again average wise, it’s pretty close.

 

[TheMookieMonster]

Using On3 rankings

Marvin - Ranked 73
Fleming - Ranked 3
Eg - Ranked 15
Tate - Ranked 41
Ballard - Ranked 85
Johnson - Ranked 807
= 170.6 average


McCoy - Ranked 19
Nimrod - Ranked 418
Keyton - Ranked 94
White - Ranked 371
Webb - Ranked 217
Thornton - Ranked 71
= 198.3 average



Not too much of a talent gap, but I get your point


Keyton - 301 yards
White - 416 yards
McCoy - 217 yards

Fleming - 171 yards
Emeka - 303 yards
Harrison - 766 yards


Once again average wise, it’s pretty close.

Well…if you take out that massive outlier that is the #807 and then Nimrod for us to be equitable, we have an average ranking of #154 versus #43. Pretty steep gap there….

 

[SugarCC]

Probably because the entire receiving corps for Ohio State is is filled with 5-stars. Not exactly comparing apples to oranges comparing the talent in our room with theirs.

Has nothing to do with who is in the room and who's not. My point is specific to you saying, and I quote, "If Matthews isn’t ready to contribute on Day 1, I’ll have concerns about our player development. He shouldn’t need 1-2 years to learn" and "Why is it that TN is one of the only places where our 5-stars need 1-2 years to develop before they can play?"

Also, as stacked as OSU has been at WR, Harrison Jr is the best of them all; and, according to you, should have been playing day 1, at least somewhere..."I’m not saying he needs to be Option #1 next year, but if he isn’t a contributor at all that’s concerning". Again, Harrison Jr caught 11 passes his Fr year.

 

[Vols410]

Probably because the entire receiving corps for Ohio State is is filled with 5-stars. Not exactly comparing apples to oranges comparing the talent in our room with theirs.

It’s also fair to note that having 5-6 5* in a room makes it easier to have one freshman that hits year 1.

 

[cncchris33]

Marvin Harrison Jr caught 11 passes his Fr year. I bet they were concerned to hell and back about him and his development.

Not that you're necessarily wrong, but he was playing behind Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba...all 1st rd. WRs.

 

[TheMookieMonster]

Not that you're necessarily wrong, but he was playing behind Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba...all 1st rd. WRs.

Correct. My only point is that we lose a lot this off-season and Bru is not a guarantee to come back. We will be young at WR next year and we need difference makers at that position. Our WR room is not as deep as Ohio State or Alabama. Until it gets there, if we’re bringing in a talent like Matthews right now, we need him to be ready to contribute.

 

[vol94]

Why is it that TN is one of the only places where our 5-stars need 1-2 years to develop before they can play? As I said, the film shows that Matthews has elite tools that no other receiver on our roster outside of maybe Squirrel has currently. I’m not saying he needs to be Option #1 next year, but if he isn’t a contributor at all that’s concerning.

Respect. Other schools play freshmen. Bama played /started a freshman O lineman yesterday. I hear freshmen players called out throughout Saturdays while watching college football.

He was an elite talent but Tua played 2nd half of title game to beat UGA as a freshman.

 

[cncchris33]

Correct. My only point is that we lose a lot this off-season and Bru is not a guarantee to come back. We will be young at WR next year and we need difference makers at that position. Our WR room is not as deep as Ohio State or Alabama. Until it gets there, if we’re bringing in a talent like Matthews right now, we need him to be ready to contribute.

Right. Matthews sure as heck isn't going to be blocked from playing time by 3 first round WRs, next year, unless we hit the portal and sign this year's equivalent of Keon Coleman and Tez Walker.

 

[TrippieRedd]

Right. Matthews sure as heck isn't going to be blocked from playing time by 3 first round WRs, next year, unless we hit the portal and sign this year's equivalent of Keon Coleman and Tez Walker.

Need to grab Caullin Lacey from South Alabama after this season

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

I don’t think we have a true WR1 on the roster currently. Hoping Matthews can be that

Highly doubt a true FR is gonna be WR1.

 

[Vols2DaWall]

Highly doubt a true FR is gonna be WR1.

I agree. More so just having the potential to be one by sophomore or junior year.

 

[SpringBokVol]

Any chance he can start as a freshman???

 

[JRVOL11]

surely he’ll be the backup to squirrel next year & they move thornton to the outside

 

[Tennessee Golfer]

surely he’ll be the backup to squirrel next year & they move thornton to the portal

FYP

 

[RAVOL]

This is what I know when Matthew's Mental part of being in this offense catches up to his physical ability he will get his snaps next year rather game 1 or 5 once he catches on he is playing. In CHRIST Alone

 

[therickbol]

Right. Matthews sure as heck isn't going to be blocked from playing time by 3 first round WRs, next year, unless we hit the portal and sign this year's equivalent of Keon Coleman and Tez Walker.

But here is the reality of that situation. It is ridiculously challenging to transition from HS to SEC level football. When a 5-star comes in and he plays before he is ready (which is almost all 5-stars) then when he struggles we got fans complaining because he isn't an All-SEC performer as a true freshman. Then it's.... why do we get the 5-stars that aren't ready and need to be developed?!?!