Josh Heupel and the Tennessee Vols should quickly follow Alabama's lead on one key decision
The Alabama Crimson Tide took down the Georgia Bulldogs on Saturday night in Tuscaloosa in large part because of true freshman wide receiver Ryan Williams. Williams, who doesn't turn 18 until February, totaled six receptions for 177 yards and a touchdown in Alabama's 41-34 win against the Bulldogs. Williams was rated by 247Sports as the […]
The Alabama Crimson Tide took down the Georgia Bulldogs on Saturday night in Tuscaloosa in large part because of true freshman wide receiver Ryan Williams.
Williams, who doesn't turn 18 until February, totaled six receptions for 177 yards and a touchdown in Alabama's 41-34 win against the Bulldogs.
Williams was rated by 247Sports as the No. 3 wide receiver in the 2024 recruiting class. The former five-star recruit is already proving that he was more than deserving of his rating.
Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer, who took over for Nick Saban earlier this year, deserves a lot of credit for giving Williams significant playing time early in the season. A lot of programs would try to ease a talented 17 year old into action. But DeBoer recognized Williams' elite talent and immediately made the youngster a huge part of Alabama's offense. I don't think Bama is 4-0 right now without that decision.
The Tennessee Vols have a similarly talented five-star freshman on their roster in Mike Matthews, who was rated by 247Sports as the No. 6 wide receiver in the 2024 recruiting class.
Matthews, however, has just two receptions for 35 yards so far this season. On his first career touchdown reception, Matthews showed elite body control and great hands.
Matthews needs to see more opportunities in Tennessee's offense. I'm not suggesting that he should become the focal point of the Vols' passing game, but he should at least be one of the top options in Tennessee's wide receiver rotation.
The Vols have some great options at wide receiver. Squirrel White and Bru McCoy are veteran players that know the offense well. Dont'e Thornton showed he has big play ability last week against Oklahoma. And Chris Brazzell is on the verge of a huge breakout.
Matthews, however, probably has the highest ceiling of any wide receiver on Tennessee's roster. I don't know if Matthews will put up Williams-like numbers, but he has the potential to be that type of wide receiver (you never know until you know).
Tennessee should give the true freshman more chances to impact the game. If Matthews is the most talented wide receiver on the roster, and there's a great chance that's the case, then there's no reason to keep him on the sideline — especially when one of the Vols' top rivals is thriving because of a true freshman wide receiver.
The Volunteers are off to a great start in 2024. But it's clearly going to be a brawl all season long in the SEC. Tennessee needs to find every advantage they can. And Matthews might be one of those advantages.
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That should settle that
