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Wide receiver DJ Matthews transferred to Indiana last offseason after four seasons at Florida State and was expected to be a dynamic playmaker for the Hoosiers. But, after four games, Matthews suffered a season-ending knee injury against Western Kentucky.

Earlier in fall camp, head coach Tom Allen said Matthews is expected to be ready for week one against Illinois on Sept. 2.

Matthews spoke with reporters on Monday and discussed his rehab process and detailed his decision to return to Indiana for another season.

"I have sore days and at first it was mentally [tough]," Matthews said. "I had to battle a lot of mental stuff so I could get back out there and get comfortable playing my game."

Matthews finished the 2021 season with 13 catches for 165 yards. He also had two carries for 28 yards and a touchdown to go along with an 81-yard punt return touchdown. Before his injury, Matthews was coming off of his best game, going for 120 yards on five catches against Cincinnati.

"Yesterday (Sunday). Yesterday was that day. I came out and I felt really great. I felt like myself again," Matthews said of when he felt back to normal. "I was still battling out of a slump [early in fall camp. So, just telling my teammates continually 'I'm trying to get back, you know, I'm trying to get back. I'm trying to get back to myself. I want to feel better.' Just praying and stuff and then yesterday just I came out and felt like myself. Today (Monday) I just stacked another day and felt like myself again."

Despite just feeling like himself this past week, it was clear to Tom Allen and the staff that he was back earlier in camp and was a key piece to the puzzle that they were missing throughout most of last season.

After the first practice when we came back together as a staff, the general consensus, we were like, 'wow, boy, did we sure miss DJ last year.'" Allen said earlier in fall camp. "He didn't get to play very many games, so you kind of forget how good he really was."

In his four seasons at Florida State Matthews played in 35 games and collected 809 yards and five touchdowns on 84 catches. He also ranks 10th all-time at FSU with 582 career punt return yards.

Matthews went in-depth about his decision to return to Indiana, and for a sixth year in college.

"It was a tough decision. I was telling my parents that pretty much I was done. But the relationship I built with Coach Allen is very strong and he just helped me through my whole process, with religion, he made sure I was a man of God and a man of my word and then on top of that, my children," Matthews said. "I never want to quit. My children look up to me. I'm their hero, so when they get older, they're going to see the trials and tribulations that I went through and all of adversity that I faced. I don't ever want them to see that I quit anything. Finish out no matter the outcome."

Matthews landed on the Paul Hornung Award watch list this fall, given to the most versatile player in college football.

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