Jimbo Fisher explains why Sam Mathews is 12th Man this season

Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher believes linebacker Sam Mathews exemplifies all the qualities the Aggies are looking for in their 12th Man. The sixth-year senior received the honor last week ahead of A&M’s season opener against New Mexico, running out of the tunnel wearing the coveted No. 12 jersey.

Mathews finished the game with two tackles and played mostly on special teams as the Aggies won 52-10. Speaking postgame, Fisher lauded him for the effort he puts in both during practice and on game day, explaining why he chose him over multiple other options.

“Everything he does,” the coach said. “You see him tonight. He’s making plays. He’s starting on every special teams. He gives you every ounce of energy he has in everything he does. He’s a high-character person. He represents what that person is and what A&M is about.

“There was a lot of good choices, but Sam, there’s nobody that puts more effort into practice daily, this team daily and what he does. His heart and soul’s in it and he plays his tail off. Very well-deserving of being the 12th man.”

A League City, Texas, native, Mathews attended Clear Creek High School and was not highly recruiting coming out of the 2018 cycle. He played the first three seasons of his college career at Division II Harding University before walking on to Texas A&M in 2021.

He immediately made an impact, earning the Special Team Most Improved Award at the end of his first year in College Station. The following year in 2022, he was named Special Teams MVP as well as taking home the Strength & Conditioning Specialist Aggie Award.

Mathews finished this past season with 10 tackles. His best game came against Florida, when he stepped up due to injuries to record a career-best six tackles in a 41-24 loss to the Gators.

Shortly after being named the 12th Man, Mathews explained what the honor means to him.

“I can’t even put it into words,” he said in a video posted while walking to practice in his new jersey number. “Unexplainable. Everything I worked for, finally paying off.”

Mathews will again play a pivotal role this year on special teams, and now adds the 12th Man to his long list of accomplishments with the Aggies. He’ll aim to continue to set the tone for what the program expects when A&M travels to Coral Gables to take on Miami in Week 2.