3 days ago
Former Texas A&M safety is headed to Auburn after a year in the transfer portal
Texas A&M's historic 2022 recruiting class has all but dissipated, and while nearly all of the 20-plus players in the cycle have found new homes or have moved on to the NFL or another line of work, former starting safety and four-star Louisiana prospect Jacoby Matthews has been in the transfer portal for over a year, but has reportedly finally found his next playing destination.
According to Auburn On3 recruiting insider Jeffrey Lee, Mathews is headed to join the Auburn Tigers for the 2025 season, bringing the length, speed, and defensive instincts that earned him the starting free safety job during the 2023 season, when he finished with 42 tackles, an interception, and four pass deflections.
After former head coach Jimbo Fisher was dismissed from the program at the end of the 2023 season, Mathews, who had a chance to retain his starting role under Mike Elko, chose to go in a different direction due to the defensive schematic changes.
Standing at 6'2" and over 200 pounds, Mathews has a chance to make an impact next season with the Tigers in the secondary, given the youth, as a redshirt sophomore, Sylvester Smith is slated to start at free safety, but that could now change with Mathews in the fold.
After not playing last season, Mathews will need to get back up to speed and will likely work his way into the safety rotation. Either way, the potential is there, and Auburn should have one of the more stout SEC defences this fall.
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