Samari Matthews commits to University of Texas football

CORNELIUS, N.C. — Hough High School’s gymnasium was evacuated briefly on Friday night due to a smoke alarm.

Samari Matthews didn’t mind. 

He was still all smiles and wearing a burnt orange bucket hat after committing to play football at the University of Texas.

And, fittingly, his nickname? It’s “Smoke.”

“That was the topper of all this. Wasn’t planned, but I’m glad it happened,” Matthews said. “I can tell the firefighters don’t worry, it was just my name.”

Matthews chose the Longhorns over several other big-time college programs, including South Carolina, Miami and Florida State.

He was surrounded by his parents and siblings, who, like him, revealed they were wearing Texas gear.

“It feels great. It feels even better knowing my loved ones were in the stands,” Matthews said. “Without them, I wouldn’t be where I am now.”

The four-star defensive back has one more season with the Huskies and hopes to win a state championship and then bring a national title to Texas.

“What excites me more is making plays in front of that crowd, hearing the cannons go off, seeing Bevo, that excites me the most,” he said. “Winning the natty, winning the SEC, playing on the big stage with Texas.”

Contact Nick Carboni at ncarboni@wcnc.com and follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.

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