South Carolina to host top 4-star DB once more this weekend

Live from Columbia, South Carolina, I’m reporting on some exciting updates from the recruiting world for the Gamecocks. South Carolina has already secured two 4-star defensive back commitments for the class of 2026: top-100 safety J’Zavien Currence and On3 top-200 cornerback Peyton Dyer. These recruits pledged their services to the Gamecocks during the 2024 football season, and as GamecockCentral’s Chris Clark highlighted earlier this week, the USC coaching staff is focused on several more elite defensive back prospects. This could result in South Carolina pulling in an exceptional group of secondary players in their 2026 recruiting cycle.

One of the top remaining targets on South Carolina’s board is cornerback Samari Matthews, who recently took to social media to announce that he will be back in Columbia this weekend. Matthews, a standout in coverage, has visited the campus several times before and has an official visit scheduled for the weekend of June 20th.

South Carolina has been hosting numerous major targets across multiple classes since spring practices began, and Matthews’ upcoming visit provides a prime opportunity for the Gamecocks to further solidify their position in his recruitment. A strong showing this weekend could potentially strengthen South Carolina’s lead in Matthews’ eyes and elevate their standing in the broader recruiting landscape.

Earlier this winter, Matthews expressed that he could “see [himself] playing at South Carolina,” and emphasized that no other team has recruited him as strongly as the Gamecocks. He told On3, “Every time I’ve been to Columbia, I have felt the love from the fans and staff. They definitely make me feel like a priority.”

Head coach Shane Beamer and defensive backs coach Torrian Gray have built strong, meaningful relationships with Matthews, which have played a critical role in their pursuit of him. These personal connections are vital in South Carolina’s efforts to land the talented cornerback.

When it comes to Matthews as a player, he fits the “Torrian Gray model” for cornerbacks perfectly. At 6-0, with length, athleticism, and aggressiveness, Matthews shares physical traits with recent Gamecock standouts like Cam Smith, Darius Rush, Marcellas Dial, and O’Donnell Fortune. However, Matthews ranks higher as a prospect than any of them.

According to the On3 industry rankings, a composite of rankings from On3, 247Sports, Rivals, and ESPN, Matthews is positioned 68th nationally and ranks as the No. 6 player in the highly competitive state of North Carolina. He is also the No. 11 cornerback in the nation.

Matthews had previously narrowed his options to a top-four, consisting of South Carolina, Clemson, Florida State, and Oregon. However, Texas has recently entered the mix, making things even more interesting. As of now, Matthews has official visits scheduled to South Carolina, Clemson, Florida State, and Texas, with a recent unofficial visit to FSU as well.

Stay tuned as we continue to monitor this developing story!