NASHVILLE, Tenn. — All-American tight end Allama Matthews will be honored as Vanderbilt’s SEC Legend at the 2022 SEC Championship game in December. The league announced the 14 legends representing each institution on Thursday.
Matthews was a first-team All-America selection by Football News at tight end his senior season of 1982, but early in his career Vanderbilt coaches tried his skills at safety and wide receiver. Once all parties settled on tight end, Matthews put together one of the finest receiving campaigns ever, helping spark the team’s run to the Hall of Fame Bowl. His senior year he made 61 catches for 797 yards and 14 touchdowns, most ever by a Commodore.
Later that season, Matthews was named SEC Offensive Lineman of the Year by the Atlanta Touchdown Club. He also earned All-SEC first team honors by the Associated Press and United Press International in 1982. A four-year letterman from 1979-82, he concluded his Commodore career with 114 catches and 18 touchdowns. Matthews was selected in the 12th round of the NFL draft by Atlanta and he played two seasons as a running back and one season as a tight with the Falcons from 1983-85.
This fall, Matthews was selected in a fan vote as one of the top 100 players in the 100 years of Vanderbilt Stadium.
The class will be honored at the 2022 SEC Football “Weekend of Champions” December 2-3 in Atlanta, Ga, highlighted by the annual SEC Legends Celebration on Friday, December 2 at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta. The group will also be recognized prior to the SEC Football Championship Game, which will be held at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday, December 3.
Current Vanderbilt defensive line coach Jovan Haye was the last Commodore honored as an SEC Legend in 2019. The program returns this year following a two-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
2022 SEC Legends
Alabama – Ozzie Newsome
Arkansas – Steve Korte
Auburn – Ben Tamburello
Florida – Alex Brown
Georgia – Thomas Davis
Kentucky – Joe Federspiel
LSU – Todd McClure
Ole Miss – Eli Manning
Mississippi State – KJ Wright
Missouri – Gary Pinkel
South Carolina – Alshon Jeffery
Tennessee – Peyton Manning
Texas A&M – Johnny Manziel
Vanderbilt – Allama Matthews
