Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 3 games
| Wk | Opp | REC | YDS | AVG | TD | LONG | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 56-9vs Furman | 4 | 132 | 33.0 | 2 | 57 | Season-high 132 yds |
| Wk 2 | W 45-24@ Georgia Tech | 2 | 16 | 8.0 | 0 | 12 | |
| Wk 3 | W 42-9vs Kennesaw State | 4 | 41 | 10.3 | 0 | 18 | |
| Total | 10 | 189 | 17.1 | 2 | 57 |
#4
Mike Matthews
Junior wide receiver for Tennessee. 2026: 3 games with a box-score line.
6′1″ · 198 lb · Lilburn, GA · Parkview
CFB Index 72 · #67 of 485 WRsHigh confidence
CFB Index
A single number blending on-field production (an EPA-based value lane) with box-score output for this player's position.
0-100, scaled within each position's own cohort — not directly comparable across positions.
The numbers
189
receiving yards · 2026 · through week 3
3 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 4 rec, 132 yds, 2 TD, vs Furman
The play that turned itSwung Tennessee from 13% to 64% to win.Oklahoma at Tennessee · 33-27
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
Junior wide receiver for Tennessee. 2026: 3 games with a box-score line.
- Signed as a 5-star recruit to Tennessee in 2024.
Buzz vs Tape
Fans warmer than rivals
His own fans are far more bullish than the rival fanbase.
30own fans
-50rival fans
Eric Cain breaks down the TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS' quarterback decision, highlighting Joey Aguilar’s impressive growth during training camp. The discussion covers the VOLS' offensive strategy, including their strong running game and potential…
Also worth knowing:
Mike Matthews
Wins underneath on volume and route precision. This is his third year in the same receiving corps at Tennessee. The receipt on tape: 132 rec yds, 4 receptions against Furman, Week 1, 2026.
189 REC YDS · 10 REC · 2 REC TD
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- positional archetype classification
- seasons on the roster
- game log
His career
He was on the field for 3 seasons. That is rarer than it sounds.
The week the volume broke through — put up 118 yds at Mississippi State.Mississippi State · W 41-342025
20244 games
- Signed with Tennessee5-star out of Parkview
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★★★
CFB
College
Tennessee
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Coaching lineage · 2024–2026
1 coach2024–2026
Tennessee
Played his entire career under Josh Heupel.
Career stats
Game log
Game by game
Mike Matthews's 2026 production
Point color shows the opponent's defensive strength that week (red = weaker defense, blue = stronger) — dashed line is this player's own season average.
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 1 · 2026
W 56–9
vs Furman
4 rec · 132 yds · 2 TD
Dominant 47-point win at home against Furman.
With F. Brandon — 226 yds · 3 TD · 0 INT · 68 rush yds (10 car) · 2 TD · J. Baker — 89 rush yds (3 car) · 1 TD
Signature plays
Signature plays · top plays by |EPA|
The plays that mattered most
- Week 1 · Furman · 2&5 · Q3 · EPA +4.84(11:44) No Huddle-Shotgun #11 F.Brandon pass complete deep middle to #4 M.Matthews caught at FUR12, for 57 yards to the FUR00 TOUCHDOWN, clock 11:38, 1ST DOWN #28 C.Ranvier kick attempt good (H: #98 J.Ross, LS: #48 B.Brady)
- Week 1 · Furman · 1&10 · Q3 · EPA +4.28(14:03) No Huddle-Shotgun #11 F.Brandon pass complete deep middle to #4 M.Matthews caught at FUR26, for 55 yards to the FUR00 TOUCHDOWN, clock 13:54, 1ST DOWN #28 C.Ranvier kick attempt good (H: #98 J.Ross, LS: #48 B.Brady)
- Week 1 · Furman · 2&7 · Q1 · EPA +2.00(13:20) No Huddle-Shotgun #11 F.Brandon pass complete short right to #4 M.Matthews caught at FUR41, for 17 yards to the FUR40 (#1 C.Easterling), out of bounds, 1ST DOWN
- Week 2 · Georgia Tech · 1&10 · Q4 · EPA +0.65(13:28) No Huddle-Shotgun #11 F.Brandon pass complete short left to #4 M.Matthews caught at UT 21, for 12 yards to the UT 26 (#23 T.Stevenson, Jr.), 1ST DOWN
- Week 3 · Kennesaw State · 1&10 · Q3 · EPA +0.51(07:11) Shotgun #11 F.Brandon pass complete short middle to #4 M.Matthews caught at KSU27, for 18 yards to the KSU21 (#6 M.Patterson), 1ST DOWN
- Week 1 · Furman · 1&15 · Q1 · EPA -0.39(08:47) Shotgun #11 F.Brandon pass complete short right to #4 M.Matthews caught at FUR46, for 3 yards to the FUR46 (#1 C.Easterling; #21 B.Lewis)
- Week 3 · Kennesaw State · 2&3 · Q2 · EPA +0.28(03:40) Shotgun #11 F.Brandon pass complete short middle to #4 M.Matthews caught at KSU37, for 8 yards to the KSU35 (#18 J.Anglin; #31 K.Russell), 1ST DOWN
- Week 3 · Kennesaw State · 1&10 · Q1 · EPA +0.15(13:33) No Huddle-Shotgun #11 F.Brandon pass complete short right to #4 M.Matthews caught at KSU19, for 12 yards to the KSU12 (#5 T.Lawson), 1ST DOWN
- Week 2 · Georgia Tech · 1&10 · Q3 · EPA -0.14(04:23) No Huddle-Shotgun #11 F.Brandon pass complete short right to #4 M.Matthews caught at GT 45, for 4 yards to the GT 45 (#4 D.White; #6 K.Hill)
- Week 3 · Kennesaw State · 3&6 · Q1 · EPA -0.10(12:20) No Huddle-Shotgun #11 F.Brandon pass complete short right to #4 M.Matthews caught at KSU07, for 3 yards to the KSU05 (#5 T.Lawson)
2026 snapshot
Since week 2: +41 receiving yards, +4 catches.
Season context · Team result + system
3 seasons under Josh Heupel — 21-8 over that span.
2024Tennessee10-3HC: Josh Heupel · Run-heavy
2025Tennessee8-5HC: Josh Heupel · Balanced
2026Tennessee3-0HC: Josh Heupel · Run-heavy
Where this profile ranks vs the WR cohort
Box-score + play-by-play EPA percentiles
High confidence
Elite: yards / catch (95th percentile). Strength: yards / catch (92nd percentile). Concern: catch rate (1st percentile).
Real play-by-play efficiency
Box-score rates (5)
Season trend
Last seasonThis season
EPA / target
87th → 11th percentile
Explosive rate
81st → 42nd percentile
Catch rate
65th → 1st percentile
TD rate
56th → 50th percentile
Yards / catch
89th → 95th percentile
Percentiles versus same-position peers with enough snaps this season. Most bars are box-score rates; EPA / success-rate bars are computed from real play-by-play (offense only — no defensive EPA model exists yet).
Splits & context
Splits · Per-game
2026 season · 3 games
Home vs Road
| REC/g | YDS/g | YPR | TD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home2g | 4.0 | 86.5 | 21.6 | 1.0 |
| Road1g | 2.0 | 16.0 | 8.0 | 0.0 |
First half vs Second half
| REC/g | YDS/g | YPR | TD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1-73g | 3.3 | 63.0 | 17.1 | 0.7 |
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Josh Heupel
Pass share
35.9%
74 pass / 132 run
Plays / game
68.7
3 games
Team sack rate
5.0%
80 dropbacks · PBP
Scheme: Run-heavy.
Awards
Player standing · 2026
Backup
On the two-deep and pushing for snaps.
Recognition
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
2026 outlook
Outside shot for All-SEC
Based on 2025: #15 of 58 SEC WRs
How the All-SEC estimate is computed
22% estimated, 95% confidence interval 19–25%. Base rate measured from players who finished at a comparable rank in their conference and came back the next season. It is an estimate from a small sample, not a forecast of this player.
How he plays
Play style
Runs precise routes in tight quarters. Volume player who keeps chains moving.
CFB Index positional classification
DNA match
Player DNA
Slot Technician
Runs precise routes in tight quarters. Volume player who keeps chains moving.
WR
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Javon Baker’s 2022 season.
76%match
NFL Rd 4
Matches Javon on
Total EPA (college ability)
Yards / reception
Differs from Javon on
Recruiting rating (higher)
Class year (lower)
EPA / play (adj) (higher)
Through 3 college seasons, his career arc tracks closest to Dallas Dixon’s path through Central Michigan.
95%match
All-MAC
Matches Dallas on
Height
Yards per reception
Weight
As a sophomore, his production profile tracks closest to Ryan Williams's sophomore season at Alabama (2025).
78%match
All-SEC
Matches Ryan on
Total EPA (college ability)
Yards / reception
Reception volume
Differs from Ryan on
Weight (higher)
Heisman trajectory
Heisman Trajectory · 2026
Peak #134
Peaked at #134 this season.
Background
CAREER HONORS 2026 Biletnikoff Award Preseason Watch List 2026 Preseason All-SEC Fourth Team (Athlon | Phil Steele) 2026 East-West Shrine Bowl 1000 2025 Fall SEC Academic Honor Roll 2024 Fall SEC Academic Honor Roll CAREER One of the SEC’s top returning receivers and a go-to playmaker for the…
The receiver room · Tennessee
- #14Braylon Staley837 receiving yards · 2025
- #4Mike Matthews813 receiving yards · 2025
- #3Radarious Jackson90 receiving yards · 2025
- #9Joakim Dodson38 receiving yards · 2025
- #1Travis Smith Jr.29 receiving yards · 2025
12 more on the roster · Tennessee team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology