#14

Nolan Matthews

TE · SMU · Jr. · #14

SMU 2023 alumnus
This season's coverage starts August 26 — check back once kickoff hits.

Nolan Matthews

TE · SMU · Jr · #14

Limited signal — not enough coverage for a story yet.

Career Arc

HS
Recruit
No recruit profile
CFB
College
SMU
2021–2023
NFL
NFL Draft
Not drafted

Coaching Lineage · 2021–2023

2 coaches
2022era →

Coaching transition mid-career: Jim Leavitt → Rhett Lashlee. Worth noting in scheme + development context.

2025 snapshot

Season context · Team result + system

2021SMU8-4HC: Jim Leavitt · Balanced
2022SMU7-6HC: Rhett Lashlee · Balanced, fast tempo
2023SMU11-3HC: Rhett Lashlee · Run-leaning

Career stats

SeasonTeam
2023SMU199.01--
2022SMU22814.00--
2021SMU88410.52--
Career1112111.03--

How he plays

Play style

Is the first read once you cross the 20.

CFB Index positional classification

DNA match

Player DNA

Red-Zone Weapon

The first read called near the goal line — size and catch radius do the rest.

TE

His 2021 production profile sits closest to Drake Dabney’s 2021 season.

Drake Dabney

60%match

Baylor · 2021

#2

Isaiah Spencer

Old Dominion · 2021

56%
#3

Isaac Rex

BYU · 2021

56%
#4

Kurt Rafdal

Boise State · 2021

54%
#5

Jamal Turner

Toledo · 2021

53%

Matches Drake on

Yards / reception
Total EPA (college ability)
TD rate

Differs from Drake on

Class year (lower)
Height (higher)

Not enough data yet for this comparison.

As a freshman, his production profile tracks closest to Isaiah Spencer's freshman season at Old Dominion (2021).

Old Dominion · 2021

#2

Tyler Foster

Ohio · 2022

70%
#3

Garrett Oakley

Kansas State · 2023

69%
#4

Kamrean Johnson

Vanderbilt · 2023

69%
#5

Nick Elksnis

UNLV · 2025

66%

Matches Isaiah on

Height
Weight

Differs from Isaiah on

Class year (lower)
TD rate (higher)
EPA / play (adj) (lower)

Development

Development Trajectory · receiving yards

2021–2023
84.02021
28.02022
9.02023

-89%

Sharp dropoff (-89%) — career inflection point.