Samari Matthews (non) update from the South Carolina 247 board
Cornelius (N.C.) Hough four-star cornerback Samari Matthews is set to announce his college decision later today. While the recruitment has long been seen as a South Carolina vs. Texas battle, sources indicated late this week that Miami has re-entered the mix with a late NIL offer that exceeded what Texas had previously put on the table, prompting the Longhorns to respond.
Despite this late twist, it remains unclear how lucrative NIL packages, particularly those offered in place of formal revenue-sharing models, will be received by the NCAA's Clearinghouse, which must approve such deals. All NIL packages must be submitted by August 1, and if these arrangements fail to gain approval, it could spell complications for schools banking on them to land top-tier prospects like Matthews.
While a commitment to Miami would come as a surprise, a decision for either South Carolina or Texas would not. Regardless of the outcome today, sources indicate the Gamecocks will continue to recruit Matthews aggressively if he does not choose them. His recruitment may not be finalized until December, when he is expected to sign.
According to the 247Sports Composite Rankings, Matthews is rated as the No. 6 cornerback in the country and the No. 5 overall prospect in North Carolina's 2026 class.