Turner Ashby (Va.) star Micah Matthews is one of the greatest dual-sport stars in the country.
The 6-foot-2, 205-pound highlight reel human is rated the nation’s fourth-best athlete in football and the 54th-best overall baseball prospect.
On Wednesday, Matthews sealed his commitment, choosing the Virginia Tech Hokies over offers from Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina State, Utah and others.
“The reason is because they’re so close to home and I got my first college offer in football,” Matthews said. “It’s been going great since that day last April. I have a great connection with the whole staff, but an even better connection with my family and the coaching staff, which is huge.”
It also helps that Virginia Tech expects him to play the hybrid offensive role currently held by Jaylin Lane.
“They want to use me as a Deebo Samuel type of guy, a guy that can slot into the backfield, a short-range guy,” Matthews said. “That was big for me. I’ve been fortunate to have that role. I love playing anywhere on the field and I love getting that message out there. Guys playing the flex positions are becoming more popular.”
Wide receivers coach Vontel Mines first saw Matthews at a James Madison University football camp a few years ago, when Matthews was a promising teenage quarterback.
“I think it was probably fifth or sixth grade,” the freshman Hawkeye said, “and he shadowed me through the whole process. That was a pretty big deal. He worked with James Madison. It feels like such a long time ago, but it’s amazing how that connection worked.”
The two-sport star plans to play baseball in college and graduate early to be an immediate contributor in both sports.
“My early enrollment is different than other students,” Matthews said. “I enroll in December and start football practice in January, but I also prepare for baseball in the spring, and I plan to attend as many football practices as I can at that time.”
Matthews has the daunting task of contributing in football and baseball in the ACC and working his way up to be a star down the line, but if anyone can do it, it’s definitely him.
Here’s some of what 247Sports had to say about him as a two-sport prospect:
“… Baseball America ranks him as the No. 54 high school player in the country and Draft Analyst ranks him as the No. 43 player in the country. He is a two-sport college wide receiver prospect with size, speed and production. He had nearly 1,500 receiving yards as a junior, 907 of which came after the catch. He is a big, strong player with a great athletic build. He runs well, can escape pressure and is very good in 50-50 ball situations. He has good tracking skills that his baseball background has definitely helped. He has abruptness, makes quick plays and uses his top speed to get past defenders at angles. He also has a bit of strength, is fearless through the middle, has strong hands and can run through defenders. He is also a very good, willing blocker who can put guys on his back. While not as polished as some of the other receivers, his athleticism is obvious and it will be fun to watch him continue to develop as a two-sport player.”
