en Matthew Golden

Matthew Golden
	Golden in 2024
Texas Longhorns – No. 2
Position	Wide receiver
Class	Junior
Major	Physical Culture and Sports
Personal information
Born:	August 1, 2003 (age 21)
Height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight	195 lb (88 kg)
Career history
College	Houston (2022–2023); Texas (2024–present);
Bowl games	2025 Peach Bowl;
High school	Klein Cain (Harris County, Texas)
Career highlights and awards
	Second-team All-Big 12 (2023);
	Stats at ESPN;

Matthew Golden (born August 1, 2003)^[1] is an American football wide receiver and return specialist for the Texas Longhorns. He previously played for the Houston Cougars.

Early life and high school

Golden was born in Houston, Texas^{[citation needed]} and attended Klein Cain High School, where he brought in 167 receptions for 3,242 yards and 32 touchdowns, while also rushing for 112 yards and four touchdowns.^[2] He initially committed to play college football at Texas Christian University,^[3] but later flipped his commitment to the University of Houston.^[4]

College career

Houston

Ahead of his freshman season in 2022, Golden earned a starting spot.^[5] In week 12 of the 2022 season, he brought in eight passes for 127 yards and two touchdowns in a win over East Carolina.^[6] Golden finished the season with 38 receptions for 584 yards and seven touchdowns.^[7] He was listed on the Walter Camp Award watchlist for the 2023 season.^[8] In week 3 of the 2023 season, Golden hauled in four passes for 56 yards, while also returning three kicks for 132 yards and a touchdown, in a loss versus TCU, earning Big 12 Conference special teams player of the week honors.^[9] In week 7, he returned a kick 99 yards for a touchdown in a win over West Virginia.^[10]

On December 7, 2023, Golden announced that he would be entering the transfer portal.^[11]

Texas

On December 16, 2023, Golden announced that he would be transferring to Texas.^[12] In the 2024 regular season, he led the team with 49 receptions for 787 yards and eight touchdowns. Texas lost to Georgia in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) championship game and advanced to the College football Playoffs, beating Clemson and Arizona State. On January 13, 2025, Golden declared for the 2025 NFL draft.^[13]

Statistics

Season	Team	Games		Receiving				Kick returns
Season	Team	GP	GS	Rec	Yards	Avg	TD	Att	Yards	Avg	TD
2022	Houston	11	8	38	584	15.4	7	5	116	23.2	0
2023	Houston	9	9	38	404	10.6	6	9	321	35.7	2
2024	Texas	16	16	58	987	17.0	9	14	285	20.4	0
Career		36	33	134	1,975	14.7	22	28	722	25.8	2

References

^ "Matthew Golden, WR Houston". dynastyleaguefootball.com. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
^ "Matthew Golden's Stats". MaxPreps.com. Retrieved October 16, 2023. ^{[better source needed]}
^ Baldwin, Chris (August 5, 2022). "How Matthew Golden Quietly Wowed No Hype UH Coach Dana Holgorsen and Became a 7-Year-Old's Hero — The Real Story of UH's Next Star". Paper City Magazine. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
^ Warren, Peter (December 15, 2021). "4-star WR Matthew Golden stays home, commits to Houston". On3.com. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
^ Duarte, Joseph (August 4, 2022). "UH freshman receiver Matthew Golden already penciled in as starter". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
^ Duarte, Joseph (November 19, 2022). "Houston's defense makes statement in win over East Carolina". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
^ Yates, Carter (August 25, 2023). "Matthew Golden has big shoes to fill as Houston's No. 1 WR". Dave Campbell's Texas Football. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
^ Duarte, Joseph (August 2, 2023). "UH sophomore receiver Matthew Golden welcomes all balls thrown his way". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
^ Duarte, Joseph (September 18, 2023). "UH's Matthew Golden named Big 12 special teams player of the week". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
^ Duarte, Joseph (October 13, 2023). "Cougars report card: Grading UH after win over West Virginia". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
^ Leland, Starns (December 7, 2023). "Golden, other UH starters enter transfer portal". The Daily Cougar. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
^ Cook, Joe (December 16, 2023). "Houston WR Matthew Golden to transfer to Texas". On3.com. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
^ "Matthew Golden declares for the NFL Draft". On3.com. Retrieved January 13, 2025.

External links

[1] "Matthew Golden, WR Houston". dynastyleaguefootball.com. Retrieved October 16, 2023.

[2] "Matthew Golden's Stats". MaxPreps.com. Retrieved October 16, 2023. ^{[better source needed]}

[3] Baldwin, Chris (August 5, 2022). "How Matthew Golden Quietly Wowed No Hype UH Coach Dana Holgorsen and Became a 7-Year-Old's Hero — The Real Story of UH's Next Star". Paper City Magazine. Retrieved October 16, 2023.

[4] Warren, Peter (December 15, 2021). "4-star WR Matthew Golden stays home, commits to Houston". On3.com. Retrieved October 16, 2023.

[5] Duarte, Joseph (August 4, 2022). "UH freshman receiver Matthew Golden already penciled in as starter". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved October 16, 2023.

[6] Duarte, Joseph (November 19, 2022). "Houston's defense makes statement in win over East Carolina". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved October 16, 2023.

[7] Yates, Carter (August 25, 2023). "Matthew Golden has big shoes to fill as Houston's No. 1 WR". Dave Campbell's Texas Football. Retrieved October 16, 2023.

[8] Duarte, Joseph (August 2, 2023). "UH sophomore receiver Matthew Golden welcomes all balls thrown his way". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved October 16, 2023.

[9] Duarte, Joseph (September 18, 2023). "UH's Matthew Golden named Big 12 special teams player of the week". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved October 16, 2023.

[10] Duarte, Joseph (October 13, 2023). "Cougars report card: Grading UH after win over West Virginia". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved October 16, 2023.

[11] Leland, Starns (December 7, 2023). "Golden, other UH starters enter transfer portal". The Daily Cougar. Retrieved December 17, 2023.

[12] Cook, Joe (December 16, 2023). "Houston WR Matthew Golden to transfer to Texas". On3.com. Retrieved December 17, 2023.

[13] "Matthew Golden declares for the NFL Draft". On3.com. Retrieved January 13, 2025.

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Matthew Golden