With the departure of All-American receiver Chris Brazzell II, the position of top receiver in Knoxville is up for grabs this spring.
Positioned for a tight battle against a true freshman and a returning sophomore standout, rising junior Mike Matthews appears as ready as ever to lead Tennessee’s 2026 aerial attack.
Top Vols’ wide receivers have consistently flourished in head coach Josh Heupel’s offensive system, as best seen through continued NFL careers of previous standouts Jaylin Hyatt, Dont’e Thornton Jr., and soon to be Brazzell.
Like the aforementioned wideouts, Matthews has spent time in backup roles for the Volunteers, perfecting his craft and becoming polished enough to step into a larger role in Heupel’s system when the opportunity arrives.
In his second and most impressive season with the Volunteers last season, Matthews hauled in 53 catches for 813 yards and four touchdowns. Ranking third among UT receivers in those categories, Matthews’ efficiency is the most encouraging statistic of all. The sophomore averaged 15.3 yards per catch last season and showed strong ability to create space against physical DBs at the line of scrimmage.
Entering his third year with the Vols’, Matthews will be the most experienced receiver on Tennessee’s roster in 2026 but awaits a tough battle for wideout supremacy against teammates Braylon Staley and TK Keys.
As a freshman last season, Staley erupted for the Volunteers, earning SEC Freshman of the Year honors following a 68 catch, 837 yards and six TD season. The returning sophomore stands as the biggest threat to Matthews taking a leap into the top WR spot.
A new young threatening presence on Rocky Top, consensus five-star true freshman Tristen “TK” Keys has the tools to become an instant impact player for the Volunteers in 2026. As a more likely suitor for the top position in future seasons, Keys has shown great potential and could see a similar freshman season output to Staley’s in 2025.
Entering the spring with more experience than his counterparts and a top spot in the offense up for grabs, Matthews’ is prime to take a leap in Heupel's system as the top WR in the Tennessee offense.