Tennessee football has met or exceeded expectations at most spots on the field through the first month of the 2024 season. But one are the Vols clearly have room to grow is in the passing game.
Tennessee’s made plays through the air so far this season but in its two matchups against power five opponents they’ve leaned on the running game and the passing offense hasn’t excelled. It hasn’t been bad in those games either but all engines have not been firing in sync.
There’s multiple reasons for that and against Oklahoma injuries on the offensive line led to poor protection for Nico Iamaleava against a stellar Sooners pass rush. But Tennessee also hasn’t had any receivers step up as go-to, star options to this point in the season.
The depth is fantastic. But Bru McCoy and Squirrel White are who they are— solid second and third options. Tulane transfer Chris Brazzell has widely been quiet since the opener against Chattanooga. Dont’e Thornton has been Tennessee’s best, most explosive receiver so far this season but he continues to play a situational role and hasn’t played 30-plus snaps in a single game this season.
“It’s just being able to go play free and play confident,” Tennessee receiver Kelsey Pope said of Thornton. “And as long as he’s doing that, I think we’ll continue to get the best version of him.”
Thornton should see a larger workload as Tennessee advances further into SEC play because of his early season success (seven catches, 242 yards and three touchdowns) and big play explosiveness.
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But another play maker that could emerge in the back half of the season if freshman Mike Matthews. The five-star freshman missed the first two games of the season but impressed in his debut against Kent State, catching two passes for 35 yards and a touchdown.
Matthews didn’t play against Oklahoma which isn’t shocking due to Tennessee’s conservative game plan against the Sooners. But starting against a shaky Arkansas’ secondary this week, the Vols could factor Matthews more-and-more into their offense.
“I’ve been impressed with his maturity,” Pope said. “He’s grown up a ton from a football knowledge standpoint. He wants to be a sponge. He’s always asking questions, he’s always in the building. He’s a guy that, going down the stretch, he’s going to continue to make plays for us because he’s the guy that we going to need to make plays on the outside.”
Matthews has played in the slot when he’s received action this season so Pope mentioning the freshman “on the outside” is very interesting. Whether that was a manner of speech for a receiver or a literal role for Matthews is unclear.
But the freshman is incredibly talented and has a chance to earn a more consistent role in the second half of the season. Freshmen receivers are having success across the country this season and while it’s unfair to expect Matthews to match them, he could provide the Vols’ offense a jolt.
