D.J. Matthews Jr.

Wisconsin

Nov 15 (Sat)

TBA

BLOOMINGTON, IN - October 15, 2022 - running back Josh Henderson #26 of the Indiana Hoosiers, wide receiver D.J. Matthews Jr. #7 of the Indiana Hoosiers, during the game between the Maryland Terrapins and the Indiana Hoosiers at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, IN. Photo By Gracie Farrall\Indiana

Photo by: Andrew Mascharka/Indiana Athletics

Photo by: Xavier Daniels/ Indiana Athletics

BLOOMINGTON, IN - SEPTEMBER 18, 2021 - wide receiver D.J. Matthews #7 of the Indiana Hoosiers during the game between the Cincinnati Bearcats and the Indiana Hoosiers at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, IN. Photo By Xavier Daniels/Indiana Athletics

Photo by: Xavier Daniels/Indiana Athletics

BLOOMINGTON, IN - SEPTEMBER 11, 2021 - wide receiver D.J. Matthews #7 of the Indiana Hoosiers during the game between the Idaho Vandals and the Indiana Hoosiers at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, IN. Photo By Pearson Georges/Indiana Athletics

Photo by: Pearson Georges/Indiana Athletics

BLOOMINGTON, IN - AUGUST 10, 2022 - wide receiver D.J. Matthews Jr. #7 of the Indiana Hoosiers during practice and the Indiana Hoosiers at Mellencamp Field in Bloomington, IN. Photo By Andrew Mascharka/Indiana Athletics

Photo by: Andrew Mascharka/Indiana Athletics

BLOOMINGTON, IN - June 28, 2022 - wide receiver D.J. Matthews Jr. #7 of the Indiana Hoosiers during Football Production Week in Bloomington, IN. Photo By Indiana Athletics

Photo by: Lauren Mervar/Indiana Athletics

Photo by: Andrew Mascharka/Indiana Athletics

Position:
WR/RS
Ht./Wt.:
5-11 / 160
Year:
Graduate +
Hometown:
Jacksonville, Fla.
High School:
Trinity Christian Academy
Prev School:
Florida State

Matthews Jr. joined Indiana as a transfer from Florida State University on Dec. 16, 2021. He ranks 10th at FSU with 582 career punt return yards and 56 returns, and he holds two of the Top-4 single-game marks. In 35 games (16 starts) with the Seminoles, Matthews made 84 receptions for 809 yards and five touchdowns to go along with one punt return TD. He earned an interdisciplinary social science degree in Dec. 2020.

2022 Honors: Paul Hornung Award preseason watch list

2022 (Graduate+): Appeared in nine games with five starts ... missed three games due to injury (at Nebraska, Michigan, at Ohio State) ... logged third career 100-yard receiving game and second as a Hoosier against Illinois (9/2) ... tallied seven catches for 109 yards and one touchdown against the Illini ... five of seven catches went for a first down or touchdown ... caught four passes on the go-ahead fourth-quarter drive for 35 yards ... also recorded one tackle ... caught three balls for 51 yards and one touchdown against Idaho (9/10) ... caught a 26-yard touchdown score in the third quarter against the Vandals ... all three receptions went for 10-plus yards ... caught five passes for 41 yards against Western Kentucky (9/17) ... returned one punt for four yards against the Hilltoppers ... made two catches at Cincinnati (9/24) ... returned one punt for 10 yards against the Bearcats ... rushed one time for four yards against Maryland (10/15) ... caught one ball for seven yards agains the Terrapins ... caught two balls for 14 yards at Rutgers (10/22) ... made three catches for five yards against No. 16 Penn State (11/5) ... returned two punts for 8 yards.

2021 (Graduate): Suffered a season-ending ACL injury in week four at Western Kentucky (9/25) ... caught 13 passes for 165 yards ... returned four punts for 83 yards with a career-long, 81-yard touchdown against Idaho (9/11) ... the 81-yarder was the 10th-longest in program history and his second career punt return TD ... rushed twice for 28 yards with as score ... pulled in five passes for 120 yards, his second career 100-yarder and first as a Hoosier, against No. 8 Cincinnati (9/18) ... added a 14-yard touchdown run and 28 yards on the ground for 148 all-purpose yards ... IU’s special teams player of the week (Idaho) ... Paul Hornung Award Watch List ... enrolled in spring classes and participated in practice.

2020 (Senior): Did not play football in 2020.

2019 (Junior): Caught 36 passes for 355 yards and three touchdowns ... returned 19 punts for 125 yards (6.6 average) ... his average ranked sixth in the ACC ... rushed four times for 18 yards and completed his only pass attempt for 25 yards ... appeared in 12 games (9 starts) ... hauled in a season-high seven balls for 47 yards and one TD in the Louisiana-Monroe win (9/7) ... made three receptions for a season-best 80 yards with a 60-yard score in the victory at Boston College (11/9) ... made the ACC Honor Roll.

2018 (Sophomore): Totaled 42 receptions for 382 yards and one touchdown ... returned 19 punts for 257 yards with one TD ... 13.5 average per return ranked sixth nationally ... played in all 12 games with six starts ... posted a career-high 145 punt return yards and his first career score, a 74-yarder, at No. 17 Miami (10/6) ... yardage was the third-highest in program history and the most by any player in 2018 vs. an FBS opponent ... earned ACC Specialist of the Week honors following his performance ... reached 100 receiving yards for the first time with a career-best 133 and one TD on a career-high 10 catches at North Carolina State (11/3).

2017 (Freshman): Returned 18 punts for 200 yards (11.1 average) with a long of 47 ... collected 138 yards on a career-high five punts (27.6) in the Delaware State win (11/18) ... the 138 yards were most nationally in 2017 and the third-most in program history ... caught his first collegiate pass for 12 yards in the victory at Duke (10/14) ... added his first career receiving touchdown, a 14-yarder, in the Louisiana-Monroe win (12/2) ... recorded season-highs with three receptions and 37 yards in the victory over Southern Mississippi in the Walk-On’s Independence Bowl (12/27).

Prep/Personal: Wide receiver and quarterback at Trinity Christian Academy ... consensus four-star prospect ... recorded a 76-yard touchdown reception in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl ... guided Trinity Christian to its fourth-straight state championship as a senior ... posted 1,487 yards rushing, receiving, and passing in addition to 19 total touchdowns ... entered his final campaign with 136 receptions for 2,253 yards and 26 TDs before seeing significant time at quarterback in 2016 ... a Jacksonville Times-Union Super 11 selection ... ranked the No. 5 wide receiver nationally and the No. 36 prospect nationally by Rivals ... rated the No. 7 prospect in Florida by 247Sports ... parents are Nasha Robinson and Dakari Matthews Sr. ... born on Dec. 2, 1997.