FSU Football: Can D.J. Matthews become top receiver for 2018 season?

FSU football is going to be looking for options at wide receiver this season – so can the sophomore from Jacksonville be the golden ticket for the Noles?

If there is one area of concern for the FSU football team as spring practice continues, it might be the most important position in the new Gulf Coast offense of head coach Willie Taggart. Entering this week, the Seminoles have just three scholarship wide receivers who are taking part in spring drills after the injury to Nyqwan Murray.

It’s been a much documented area of concern over the past few months – considering three of the top eight pass catchers from last season are gone, one (Murray) is out for the spring, another (George Campbell) can’t stay healthy and two are running backs, leaving just rising junior Keith Gavin and the man who sat in ninth place after 2017.

That player, rising sophomore D.J. Matthews, might end up being the best receiver for FSU football when the 2018 season is all said and done.

It isn’t just because Matthews is going to get more first team looks during spring football due to injuries. – and it isn’t because he was a four star high school recruit from Trinity Christian Academy and there is an obligation for him to play. It’s because Matthews may be the most gifted receiver that Taggart and wide receiver coach David Kelly have at this point.

One look at some of the things he is doing as a receiver and punt returner validating the argument of Matthews’ value to the Seminoles:

Matthews has a natural ability when it comes to playing football – and even his teammates are noticing it (h/t Orlando Sentinel).

"“Honestly, when I get the ball in my hands, I’m not really thinking anything. I black out,” Matthews said with a smile before Monday’s practice.“I just see guys coming [from] everywhere. It’s like closing your eyes for a long time, then opening them and seeing stars and trying to dodge them. That’s how I look at it.”“Some of the stuff he does, it’s mind blowing,” senior running back Jacques Patrick said. “He’s a special player out there. Bottom line, he’s a special player.”"

Taggart has made it very clear that everyone is going to get a chance to show out and earn a spot in the starting lineup for the Seminoles, so Matthews is going to get a honest look – so far, it seems like that might be all he needs to go from a six catch for 72 yard freshman to a sophomore starting in the season opener against Virginia Tech.

Next: Impact of Nyqwan Murray missing spring practice

If that’s the case, you might be adding his name to the list of great FSU football receivers in program history before it is all said and done.