It is starting to seem like the University of Louisville football program may have found another pipeline to recruit from: transfers from the Georgia Bulldogs. With Josh Harvey-Clemons (safety) and Shaq Wiggins (cornerback) already on board, a third member could be on the way.
Tray Matthews, a safety who started 6 games as a freshman last season, tweeted that he will be leaving UGA and that Louisville or Auburn will be his next destination.
I'm sorry UGA family.I swear to God I love yal.I'm crying right now but I won't forget. Love the dawgs.Auburn or Louisville will be my home
— TriggaTray (@Trigga_Tray28) June 3, 2014
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has a story saying that he was kicked off the team by head coach Mark Richt. In the article, Richt says “We are trying to make room for guys who want to do things right.” Also from the article:
Neither Richt nor Matthews disclosed Tuesday what precipitated Matthews’ dismissal from the team.
However, Matthews was arrested by UGA Police in March, along with three other Georgia football players, and charged with misdemeanor theft by deception for allegedly double-dipping school-issued financial-aid checks by cashing them twice.
So we know it is down to Louisville and Auburn. According to former teammate at UGA and now Louisville Cardinal Shaq Wiggins, he may already know that answer. In a tweet that has since been deleted, Wiggins said “my boy tray coming to da Ville wit me and da boy JHC. It’s gone get ugly.” To paraphrase that: “Tray Matthews is coming to Louisville with me and Josh Harvey-Clemons. It will be fun.”
Coming out of high school, Matthews was rated as a 4-star prospect by ESPN, 247 Sports, Rivals, and Scout. Last year at Georgia, he recorded 36 tackles and 1 interception.
He would be a big-time addition to the Cards’ secondary in 2015. I know there will be people that say something about possibly taking another player that has been kicked off of a team. To that I say, well first off I am happy for you that you have never made a mistake, especially in college. Aside from that, I have no problem with Bobby Petrino bringing guys in and giving them another chance and having them on a zero tolerance policy. They screw up once while at Louisville, they are gone. I am good with that, but why not see what happens first? Some people thought Michael Dyer would bring baggage. Heard much about him being in trouble here? Nope.
Let’s just see what happens. I will close this with a quote from a former Beatle.
“All we are saying…is give peace a chance.” -John Lennon
Yeah, I like taking on talented guys who have had trouble in the past, but you gotta put a very short leash on them. One screw-up and you’re out of there. Just win games and stay clean.
I agree with that.