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Texas earns a commitment from 2026 4-star CB Samari Matthews

by: Charlie Williams07/11/25
samari matthews afi

Four-star cornerback, Samari Matthews, ranked as the No. 9 cornerback, the No. 70 overall prospect, and the No. 6 player in North Carolina with a 93.97 rating, has committed to the Texas Longhorns. The Longhorns paced this recruitment ever since Texas hired Mark Orphey, and Pete Kwiatkowski‘s defense gains a high-quality defender as a result.

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When IT first saw Matthews at the OT7 7-on-7 tournament back in March, he completely dominated the competition. IT got the chance to speak with him and his father, and the way they talked about Texas stood out. Matthews had a strong standing relationship with Orphey from his time at Rutgers, and Matthews told IT, “I was always interested in Texas from the beginning, just based on the track record of development of guys, getting them to the NFL. Coach Duane Akina, who started DBU, was back. And Coach Orphey, I had a strong relationship with him even when he coached at Rutgers.”

Things picked up in April when Matthews made his first visit to Austin. He told IT afterward that Texas exceeded all of his expectations. The coaching, the energy in practice, the development plan — it was everything he hoped for. He felt like he could grow there, both as a player and as a person.

He also fell in love with the city of Austin. Everywhere he went, it felt like it was all UT — the love, the energy, the vibe — it was unmatched. The tradition and history of the program stood out, and it all left a lasting impression on him.

As official visits rolled around, Miami and Florida State made their case and pushed hard. Then came his official visit to Texas — and that’s where the Longhorns solidified everything he needed to see.

Matthews told IT post-visit, “I wanted to see where the freshmen were living, revisit the facilities — especially the training center. I was just looking for a sense of environment again, to feel that genuine support from the staff, and ultimately, if it felt like home.”

He got exactly that. From the one-on-one time with coaches, to learning how they plan to use him in the defense, to hanging out with current players and soaking in the culture — it checked every box. After that visit, I got a text message from the family: “#AllGasNoBrakes.” That’s Texas’ motto, and in that moment, I knew they might’ve locked this one up.

But it wasn’t over just yet. Matthews still had his final official visit to South Carolina, and the Gamecocks made things interesting. They grabbed some late momentum and gave Matthews and his family a lot to consider.

In the end, though, Matthews chose Texas. The Longhorns offered everything he was looking for — a winning program, elite development, NFL potential, strong academics, and the chance to thrive on and off the field in the city of Austin.

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Matthews is ranked as the No. 70 overall prospect, the No. 9 cornerback, and the No. 6 player in North Carolina according to the Rivals Industry Ranking. On3 ranks Matthews as the No. 83 overall prospect, the No. 9 cornerback, and the No. 9 player in North Carolina.

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