Memphis football continues adding to its 2020 class after receiving a commitment from St. Augustine (New Orleans) wide receiver Khi Mathieu.
Mathieu, who committed on Sunday, is the cousin of current Kansas City Chiefs cornerback and former LSU star Tyrann Mathieu. He’s a three-star recruit and ranked No. 33 among Louisiana players, according to 247Sports.
The New Orleans native chose the Tigers over offers from Tennessee, Nebraska and Kentucky, among others. The 6-foot, 160-pound senior took his official visit to Memphis this weekend.
“The reason I picked Memphis is because this is a great team and it’s like home and it feels like family,” Mathieu said. “They love to win, and they throw the ball a lot. Right when I stepped on the field, that was the place to be.”
Mathieu said Tigers wide receivers coach/recruiting coordinator John Simon served as his lead recruiter, and he spent time with fellow Louisiana native Damonte Coxie, who helped show him around campus.
Memphis coach Mike Norvell has had great success recruiting in Louisiana, with 10 current players from the state on his roster.
Mathieu caught 16 passes for 365 yards and four touchdowns his junior year, and he had a strong showing at The Opening regional football camp in March in New Orleans.
One of his catches during his team’s spring scrimmage in May 2018 also went viral. He went up high and corralled a one-handed catch in the end zone before falling down.
Mathieu is the third wide receiver to commit to the Tigers’ 2020 class, a position that will need replenishing with seniors John “Pop” Williams, Antonio Gibson and Kedarian Jones graduating after last season.
Coxie, the Tigers’ leading receiver last season, also will attract more attention from NFL scouts after his breakout season last year.
The Tigers’ class, which now has five recruits, is ranked No. 56 in 247Sports team rankings.
