Five-star tackle Mark Matthews leaves Texas A&M class

Five-star offensive tackle Mark Matthews decommitted from Texas A&M on Sunday, sources told ESPN, reopening his recruitment less than a month before the early signing period begins Dec. 2.

Matthews, a 6-foot-6, 285-pound lineman from St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, is No. 6 in the SC Next ESPN 300 and ESPN’s No. 2 offensive tackle in the 2027 class. He had committed to the Aggies on May 15 over Miami, LSU and Georgia.

Miami finished as the close runner-up in that recruitment and has remained in regular contact with Matthews, according to ESPN’s sources. ESPN reported that the Hurricanes are well-positioned following his decision. Matthews is now uncommitted, no new pledge was reported.

The departure reshapes a Texas A&M class that entered Sunday ranked No. 1 nationally by ESPN. Matthews had been one of five five-star commitments in the Aggies’ 2027 group and is now the cycle’s only uncommitted five-star prospect.

Texas A&M still has three offensive tackles committed, led by Kennedy Brown, ESPN’s No. 5 overall prospect and No. 1 player at the position. In-state linemen Kaeden Scott, No. 150 overall, and four-star DeMarrion Johnson, ESPN’s No. 38 offensive tackle, remain part of the class.

The recruiting change follows a 17-9 loss to No. 21 South Carolina that dropped Mike Elko’s team to 4-5 overall and 1-5 in SEC play. The Aggies need two wins in their final three regular-season games to become bowl eligible, beginning with a home game against No. 9 Tennessee.

Why it matters

Matthews’ exit removes one of five five-star commitments from a Texas A&M class ESPN ranked No. 1 entering Sunday. The Aggies still hold commitments from three offensive tackles, including No. 5 overall prospect Kennedy Brown.

What to watch next

Texas A&M hosts No. 9 Tennessee on Saturday at 3 p.m. ET on ESPN. The early signing period begins Dec. 2, giving Matthews less than a month to weigh his reopened recruitment.