Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | REC | YDS | AVG | TD | LONG | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 45-24@ California | 4 | 88 | 22.0 | 0 | 43 | Season-high 88 yds |
| Wk 2 | W 28-10vs San Diego State | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Total | 4 | 88 | 22.0 | 0 | 43 |
#7
Mikey Matthews
Senior wide receiver for UCLA. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
5′8″ · 182 lb · Irvine, CA · Mission Viejo HS / California
CFB Index 38 · #318 of 485 WRsHigh confidenceReturning to UCLA for 2026
CFB Index
A single number blending on-field production (an EPA-based value lane) with box-score output for this player's position.
0-100, scaled within each position's own cohort — not directly comparable across positions.
The numbers
88
receiving yards · 2026
4 catches · 22 per catch
2 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 4 rec, 88 yds, at California
The play that turned itSwung UCLA from 50% to 83% to win.Maryland at UCLA · 20-17
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
4 wide receiver for UCLA. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
- Signed as a 4-star recruit to Utah in 2023.
- Transferred from California to UCLA in 2025.
Mikey Matthews
Moves the chains on third down. Across four seasons and three programs, four head coaches: Kyle Whittingham, Justin Wilcox, Tim Skipper and Bob Chesney. The receipt on tape: 88 rec yds, 4 receptions against California, Week 1, 2026.
88 REC YDS · 4 REC · 0 REC TD
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- positional archetype classification
- head-coach lineage
- game log
His career
3 programs, one constant: he played.
The week the volume broke through — put up 53 yds vs California.California · W 34-142023
202312 games
- Signed with Utah4-star out of Mission Viejo
202413 games
- Entered the portal
202511 games
- Entered the portal
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★★
CFB
College
3 teams
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Coaching lineage · 2023–2026
4 coachesPlayed under 4 different head coaches: Chip Kelly, Deshaun Foster, Tim Skipper, and Bob Chesney. Multi-era developmental context.
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2023Utah8-5HC: Kyle Whittingham · Run-heavy
2024California6-7HC: Justin Wilcox · Balanced
2025UCLA3-9HC: Tim Skipper · Balanced, slow tempo
2026UCLA2-0HC: Bob Chesney · Run-heavy, slow tempo
Where this profile ranks vs the WR cohort
Box-score percentiles
High confidence
Elite: yards / catch (98th percentile). Concern: receptions (0th percentile).
Box-score rates (5)
Percentiles versus same-position peers with enough snaps this season, based on box-score rates.
Splits & context
Splits
Per-game splits
Through 2 games: 2.0 REC/g, 44.0 YDS/g, 22.0 YPR, 0.0 TD/g — splits start at 3 games.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Bob Chesney
Scheme reads (pass share, tempo, sack rate) need at least 3 team games — 2 games in so far.
Awards
Player standing · 2026
Backup
On the two-deep and pushing for snaps.
Recognition
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
2026 outlook
Outside shot for All-Big Ten
Based on 2025: #42 of 61 Big Ten WRs
How the All-Big Ten estimate is computed
15% estimated, 95% confidence interval 13–17%. Base rate measured from players who finished at a comparable rank in their conference and came back the next season. It is an estimate from a small sample, not a forecast of this player.
Career stats
| Season | Team | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | UCLA | 4 | 88 | 22.0 | 0 | -- |
| 2025 | UCLA | 33 | 348 | 10.5 | 2 | -- |
| 2024 | California | 34 | 292 | 8.6 | 1 | -- |
| 2023 | Utah | 29 | 261 | 9.0 | 0 | -- |
| Career | 100 | 989 | 9.9 | 3 | -- |
| Season | Team | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | UCLA | -- | -- | -- | 53 | -- |
| 2025 | UCLA | 1 | 1 | 28 | 47 | -- |
| 2024 | California | 7 | 29 | -- | 67 | -- |
| 2023 | Utah | 1 | 4 | 309 | 75 | -- |
| Career | 9 | 34 | 337 | 242 | -- |
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 2 · 2026
W 28–10
3 NO · 41 YDS · 13 AVG
With C. Gerrand — 49 AVG · 2 IN 20 · 55 LONG · N. Iamaleava — 151 yds · 0 TD · 1 INT · QBR 31.0 · 57 rush yds (13 car)
Game log
How he plays
Play style
Reliable target who converts on critical downs. Not flashy; consistently productive.
CFB Index positional classification
2026 Outlook
UCLA
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Wide receiver · UCLA
Returning around him
- 57% of 2024 offensive production back (Solid continuity)
- Transfer portal: +14 net (43 in / 29 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
UCLA · Last season: 3-9 · Talent rank #25 · 2026 recruiting class #62
DNA match
Player DNA
Possession Receiver
Reliable target who converts on critical downs. Not flashy; consistently productive.
WR
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Gage Larvadain’s 2024 season.
Matches Gage on
Total EPA (college ability)
Yards / reception
TD rate
Differs from Gage on
Reception volume (higher)
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a junior, his production profile tracks closest to Mario Williams's junior season at USC (2023).
80%match
All-AACNFL Rd 1 · Pk 1
Matches Mario on
TD rate
Reception volume
Total EPA (college ability)
Differs from Mario on
Recruiting rating (lower)
EPA / play (adj) (lower)
Player DNA
Players who play like Mikey Matthews
Background
Career Summary Matthews has played 37 games and made 14 starts over three seasons at UCLA (2025), California (2024) and Utah (2023) … has totaled 94 receptions for 881 yards and three touchdowns in his career … has averaged 9.37 yards per catch and 23.8 yards per game … has notched 25-plus recept...
The receiver room · UCLA
- Leland Smith695 receiving yards · 2025
- #11Landon Ellis624 receiving yards · 2025
- #7Mikey Matthews348 receiving yards · 2025
- #4Semaj Morgan223 receiving yards · 2025
- #1Aidan Mizell177 receiving yards · 2025
11 more on the roster · UCLA team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology