Intel: Maryland in top group for speedy Virginia wide receiver

matthew outten courtesy of @amtthewoutten6

Maryland has a pair of alpha dogs in their wide receiver room heading into the 2024 season in Kaden Prather and Tai Felton, but what does the future of the room look like? Maryland saw its first running back target jump into the fold when DeMatha (MD) two-sport athlete Bud Coombs pulled the trigger on his decision, but the staff has been in consistent pursuit of Norcom (VA) fringe four-star athlete Matthew Outten since the 2025 cycle picked up. Heading into official visit season, Maryland remains a contender for the explosive Virginia athlete.

While Outten has kept his recruitment close to the vest, sources tell IBG that three schools are doing the best and are in line for official visits: Virginia Tech, Maryland and Penn State. South Carolina, Tennessee and Syracuse have worked to remain in the mix, Virginia and West Virginia both extended offers to the 6-foot-2, 205-pound athlete this month while Alabama expressed strong interest at safety, but Outten has remained steadfast in his process as he narrows his focus ahead of an expected summer commitment.

Penn State is expected to be the first school to host him for an official visit the weekend of June 7 before Virginia Tech hosts him for an official visit the weekend of June 14. Outten is expected to round out his June visits with a trip to College Park the weekend of June 21 as assistant Latrell Scott has prioritized the Virginia playmaker since picking up an offer back in January.

The Hokies have set the bar in his recruitment and have gone all out for Outten coming out of the spring, making the receiver target a top priority with multiple offensive staffers working to keep him local. Penn State has remained consistent since November with position coach Marques Hagans leading the way, but Maryland remains a threat in Outten’s recruitment and was the last school to host Outten after returning to campus for a spring practice.

“Just because of the demographic, the genuine love he felt when he went and he likes it. It’s not far from home, somewhere his mom can jump on the road or his brother or sister can jump on the road. He likes the coaches and the persistence,” a source close to his recruitment told IBG about Outten’s interest in Maryland.

While some schools have ID’ed Outten as a possible defensive back, his blazing speed has made him an exciting receiver process where he posted a 10.91 as a sophomore and 11.27 in the spring in the 100-meter dash. Outten also posted a blazing 4.58 in the 40-yard dash at the 2024 National Combine back in January. After lining up on both sides of the ball along with his speed leveraged in the return game, Outten posted 665 all-purpose yards and eight total touchdowns in six games.

Matthew Outten is rated a three-star prospect and an 89 overall by On3, sitting as the 14th-best prospect in Virginia and the nation’s 17th-best athlete.