It was a relatively successful season for the Tennessee Volunteers and quarterback Nico Iamaleava, who went 10-3 overall, 6-2 in SEC play and earned the No. 9 seed in the College Football Playoff.

Their year would end after losing in the first round to No. 8 Ohio State, 42-17, but that meant it was time to build for the future and try to capture that elusive national championship, which the program hasn’t won since 1998.

Luckily for the Volunteers, and especially Iamalevea, that became much easier after true freshman wide receiver Mike Matthews decided to stay with the program instead of seeking other options.

In 2024, Matthews had a limited role on the offense, accumulating seven receptions, 90 yards and two touchdowns, but his potential is truly intriguing.

As a recruit, On3 ranked him as a five-star prospect, the No. 6 wide receiver and No. 26 player in the nation. He was also the program’s second highest-rated recruit in the class of 2024, just behind EDGE Jordan Ross.

Matthews could play a pivotal role in ensuring Tennessee keeps up its stellar offensive production. The team ranked 13th in points per game (35.7) and 15th in total yards per game (447) in the country.

This news could have a very big impact on Iamaleava, whom Mark Schlabach of ESPN considers an early Heisman Trophy candidate for 2025. The quarterback finished an impressive 2024 completing 213-of-334 passes for 2,616 yards with 19 touchdowns and five interceptions.