Coveted 2026 4-star CB Samari Matthews sets pair of visits this weekend

The summer dead period will come to an end in the coming days, as some of the top uncommitted prospects in the 2025 cycle and a slew of elite juniors in the class of 2026 will begin taking visits once again.

Huntersville (N.C.) William Amos Hough four-star cornerback Samari Matthews is coming off a busy spring that saw him visit seven different programs. He’s wasting no time getting back on the road, as he announced on Monday that he’ll visit South Carolina this Friday, then head to Tallahassee to see Florida State on Saturday.

The Gamecocks have already had the 6-foot, 180-pounder on campus multiple times this year and are emerging as an early favorite for the defensive back. Head coach Shane Beamer, DBs coach Torrian Gray and Co. continue to build relationships with the Tar Heel State standout.

“The first time they really stood out was during ninth grade when I went to their game against Missouri during my freshman year. I got to meet coach Torrian Gray for the first time, talk with him, see what he’s done with his history of coaching defensive backs and what he’s doing at South Carolina,” Matthews told On3’s Chad Simmons in May.

“He starts freshmen and I think he had two years in a row with Freshman All-Americans starting at defensive back. Then, I got to meet coach Shane Beamer. Talking with him, I could sense the family atmosphere and my family liked him… I can tell the love there is real.” 

FSU had Matthews on campus last summer and the Seminoles will look to put another strong foot forward this weekend. The Sunshine State program made Matthews’ top 11 at the beginning of the month, which also included the likes of Penn State, Oregon, North Carolina, Florida, Ohio State, Notre Dame and Tennessee.

“Every time I go up to a school, I look for the family connection,” Matthews told On3. “Is the head coach trying to see me and will I be able to talk to him? I want to be able to go into meeting rooms to see if the scheme fits me and learn about the coaches as people.”

Matthews is the No. 59 overall prospect and No. 5 CB 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.