Hoosiers Pick Up DJ Matthews as Transfer From Florida State

Image: Orlando Sentinel

Written by: TJ Inman (@TJHoosierHuddle)

Indiana Hoosier fans are relishing their 3-0 start and top ten ranking and many were wondering, when do we see this success translate to wins on the recruiting front? The first answer came today as Florida State transfer and Jacksonville, Florida native, D.J. Matthews tweeted out his commitment to the Indiana Hoosiers. The 5’11” and 160-pound speedster will be eligible for the 2021 campaign and should have two seasons of eligibility remaining.

Matthews was a highly-regarded prospect from Trinity Christian Academy in Jacksonville. He chose Florida State over offers from Alabama, Auburn, Tennessee and several other major programs. As a freshman in 2017, Matthews played in three contests. His role grew as a redshirt freshman in 2018, he caught 41 passes for 380 yards including a huge game with 133 receiving yards and a touchdown against a ranked North Carolina State squad. Last season, Matthews had 36 catches for 355 yards with three touchdowns. He was a major weapon as a punt returner with an average of 10.4 yards per return, good for eighth among active FBS players.

He opted out of the 2020 season and announced that he was transferring and the bulk of the chatter suggested he was going to Oklahoma. Surprisingly, he announced today that he’ll be joining Tom Allen’s Indiana squad. If Whop Philyor leaves after this season, Matthews should be able step into his role as a shifty and explosive weapon. If Whop returns, Matthews will offer additional depth and serve as another option for Michael Penix to utilize. The Hoosiers hope this is another building block to the increasingly exciting program they are building in Bloomington.