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4-star CB Samari Matthews alongside Mike Norvell on official visit to Florida State

hunterby: Hunter Shelton06/07/25HunterShelton_
Samari Matthews at the Under Armour Next Camp Series in Charlotte (Photo: GamecockCentral.com)
Samari Matthews at the Under Armour Next Camp Series in Charlotte (Photo: GamecockCentral.com)

One of the biggest official visit weekends in the country is in Tallahassee as Florida State looks to build on a class that ranks No. 18 in the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings.

The Seminoles have a slew of top targets in town, including Huntersville (N.C.) William Amos Hough four-star cornerback Samari Matthews.

The 6-foot, 180-pounder has had FSU among his top schools for some time. As he continues to work towards an August decision, he’s getting a crucial look at the ACC program — and getting to spend some time around head coach Mike Norvell during his OV photoshoot:

The Noles are battling Miami, Texas and South Carolina, among others. Matthews took his official visit to Miami last weekend and will see both the Longhorns and Gamecocks later this month. The blue-chipper previewed his visit this weekend with Warchant’s Matt LaSerre.

“I have enjoyed myself every time I have visited FSU. Plus I have a great relationship with the staff,” Matthews said. “It’s a place I can see myself playing.”

Matthews is the No. 69 overall prospect and No. 9 corner in the 2026 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He’s also the No. 6 player in North Carolina.

Texas continues to trend for Matthews in the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine. Longhorns insiders Justin Wells and Charlie Williams each logged picks in favor of UT back in April.

Florida State eyeing an elite DB haul this cycle

Florida State’s production in the secondary is well known and the Seminoles have already compiled some elite talent in that department this cycle. Of the nine commits in FSU’s class to date, five are capable of being a defensive back at the next level.

Vero Beach (Fla.) four-star athlete Efrem White continues to sit atop the class. He now ranks No. 233 overall and is the No. 11 ATH in the cycle. White has been committed since Dec. 12, 2023.

Miami Barbara Goleman four-star safety Darryl Bell is also a long-time pledge. He committed on Oct. 10, 2023. Homestead (Fla.) Northwestern four-star safety Tedarius Hughes committed last July, while Tampa Plant four-star athlete Darryon Williams pledged last April. Severn (Md.) Archbishop Spalding three-star cornerback Sean Johnson is the lone out-of-state commit in the class.

If Matthews were to choose FSU, he’d be the top-ranked member of the class for Norvell and Co.

Matthews raised his stock this spring

Matthews has been considered one of the nation’s top 2026 corners for some time, yet he continues to impress and bump his stock with scouts, including On3’s Cody Bellaire, who got a great look at him during Overtime’s OT7 this spring:

“After a quiet Day 1 of OT7 yesterday being hardly thrown at all afternoon, teams decided to test Samari Matthews on Sunday and they paid the price. It felt like every time you looked up Matthews was getting his hand on a pass or coming down with an interception,” Bellaire wrote. “He was dominant in the redzone as well showing off his physicality and hip fluidity in press man coverage, forbidding any receiver the chance of coming down with a touchdown when going up against him. Matthews was shutting down an entire side of the field throughout Day 2 of OT7 and made offenses pay the price for testing him.”