Mark Matthews’ recruitment has swung back open, and the timing gives Miami fresh life in a chase that never really went away.
The St. Thomas Aquinas offensive tackle reopened his recruitment Sunday, Nov. 8, about six months after committing to Texas A&M.
Matthews had picked the Aggies in May over Miami, Georgia and LSU, but the battle for one of the nation’s premier prospects is back on. In the 2027 Rivals Industry Rankings, he sits No. 2 overall, No. 1 among offensive tackles and as the top player in Florida.
For Texas A&M, the loss is a major one. Matthews was the highest-rated commitment in the class, and his departure immediately opens the door for Miami to keep pushing for one of South Florida’s most coveted players.
The Hurricanes had plenty of reasons to stay in the mix even after Matthews’ original pledge. He kept speaking highly of Miami in the months after choosing Texas A&M, including in September when he praised the family atmosphere around the program and the effort the staff had put into recruiting him.
That connection was built over time. Matthews took six unofficial visits to Miami, including trips in February and March 2025, twice during the opening month of the 2025 season, another in November and one more in March 2026. Mario Cristobal’s staff kept him close, and the relationship never really disappeared after the first decision.
Texas A&M had its own pull, of course, largely through offensive line coach Adam Cushing. That relationship helped make the Aggies a serious contender in the first place, and Matthews’ September comments suggested that his appreciation for Texas A&M’s staff and his comfort with Miami could coexist.
Miami also picked up a more tangible recruiting win in October. Four-star linebacker Aston Whiteside flipped from Texas A&M to the Hurricanes after visiting for Miami’s Oct. 17 game against Florida State. He watched Miami win 43-35 in double overtime and changed his commitment four days later.
That was a useful sign for Miami in the Matthews pursuit. The Hurricanes had kept after Whiteside even after his pledge to Texas A&M on June 1, and they turned a fall visit into a flip. Different recruit, same opponent, same message: Miami was still capable of pulling talent out of the Aggies’ class.
Texas A&M’s on-field slide added more tension to the picture. The Aggies lost 17-9 to South Carolina on Nov. 7, falling to 4-5 overall and 1-5 in SEC play. It was their fifth loss in seven games, and Matthews reopened his recruitment the next day.
That defeat also left Mike Elko’s team needing two wins in its final three regular-season games to reach bowl eligibility. While Texas A&M was sitting near the top of the recruiting rankings, the results on Saturdays were moving in the opposite direction.
Miami now gets another shot at an elite tackle as it sits ahead of Texas A&M in the Rivals team rankings after Matthews’ departure. The Aggies still have offensive line pledges from Kennedy Brown, Kaeden Scott and DeMarrion Johnson, but losing the top name in the class is a different kind of blow.
Matthews remains uncommitted, and the next move in his recruitment will decide whether Miami can finally turn months of steady pursuit into a commitment.
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