Samari Matthews, a standout four-star cornerback from Huntersville, N.C., is narrowing down his college choices to just four schools. He shared this exciting update with On3’s Hayes Fawcett on Friday.
Earlier, he had a top eight list that included big names like Alabama, Clemson, FSU, Georgia, North Carolina, Penn State, South Carolina, and Tennessee. But now, he’s laser-focused on the Tigers, Ducks, Seminoles, and Gamecocks.
Matthews recently took a trip to Tallahassee, and it seems it left quite an impression. He even mentioned to On3’s Chad Simmons that Florida State has surged to the front of his list.
“This visit most definitely made an impact on me,” Matthews said. “I loved it. It was a great visit and Florida State is a top contender now.”
South Carolina isn’t backing down either. They’ve been consistently pursuing Matthews, and he’s made several trips to Columbia. The Gamecocks have really made their presence felt.
“They are another school that will be there to the end,” Matthews noted about the Gamecocks. “Out of all the schools right now, they have been in contact with me probably the most. I have a great relationship with the whole staff, but especially Coach Gray and Coach Beamer.”
At 6 feet tall and weighing 180 pounds, Matthews is not just any player. He’s ranked as the No. 51 overall prospect and the No. 4 corner in the 2026 cycle according to the On3 Industry Ranking. That ranking takes into account evaluations from all four major recruiting media companies. Plus, he’s the No. 7 player in North Carolina.
It’s going to be interesting to see where Matthews decides to go. With such strong contenders, his choice could shake up college football in a big way.
