2026 Samari "Smoke" Matthews 4* CB from Cornelius, NC Commits to Texas

[JHallCanes]

@JHallCanes , this one looks like its going in the nickname loss column.

“JJ” is a nickname battle we can win

“Smoke”?

Nahhhhhh

 

[Sumcane]

A few hours ago on local Columbia SC sports radio, they still seemed confident on Smoke. Did acknowledge Tx as a threat but think their relationship will win out

 

[TomAce]

“JJ” is a nickname battle we can win

“Smoke”?

Nahhhhhh

Snort would have been a lock

 

[JHallCanes]

Snort would have been a lock

Speaking of time to check the countdown thread

 

[Calinative]

“JJ” is a nickname battle we can win

“Smoke”?

Nahhhhhh

The rule should be the nickname can't be initials or just a NORMAL shortened version of their name tbh. Like You cant say Ed is nickname for Edward or **** for Richard or something...

 

[Reyrey]

Tehas

 

[Memnon]

Do I think a young black man cringes wearing a cowboy hat in the state of Texas? The state that gave us Juneteenth in recognition of slave owners who refused to let their slaves know that Lincoln had freed them 2 years prior, and did not free their slaves until forced to do so by the Union army? At the school that has a theme song that uses imagery of slavery

YES they cringe if they know even the slightest bit of US history.

The first Cowboys in America were Black.

 

[Big O Cane]

The first Cowboys in America were Black.

Also, most of the Dallas Cowboys are black

 

[TrumpyCane]

Also, most of the Dallas Cowboys are black

 

[Damiencane86]

Do I think a young black man cringes wearing a cowboy hat in the state of Texas? The state that gave us Juneteenth in recognition of slave owners who refused to let their slaves know that Lincoln had freed them 2 years prior, and did not free their slaves until forced to do so by the Union army? At the school that has a theme song that uses imagery of slavery

YES they cringe if they know even the slightest bit of US history.

Once the bag + NIL check clears I am guessing all this is pretty far out of their minds

 

[AtlAtty]

The first Cowboys in America were Black.

They didn’t wear goofy a*s cowboy hats like Matthews wore in that photo.

 

[Elmer Leghorn]

They didn’t wear goofy a*s cowboy hats like Matthews wore in that photo.

 

[TomAce]

The first Cowboys in America were Black.

 

[Memnon]

They didn’t wear goofy a*s cowboy hats like Matthews wore in that photo.

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/hist...frican-American cowboys,by Spain in the 1500s.

You sure about that?

 

[Ghurd8]

Once the bag + NIL check clears I am guessing all this is pretty far out of their minds

As it should be. I personally love what @AtlAtty is doing here but allowing past persecution to prevent prosperity in the present is hustling backwards.

Business is business & if Texas had the best offer & you can compartmentalize the other stuff, if it actually even mattered to you in the 1st place, you make that move.

 

[CaneLos]

The first Cowboys in America were Black.

The first cowboys were Vaqueros and they were Mexican.

 

[DLINKDAGR8]

The first cowboys were Vaqueros and they were Mexican.

Lol and what does "mexi" mean lmfao

 

[Memnon]

The first cowboys were Vaqueros and they were Mexican.

https://www.science.org/content/art...hink “cowboy,” and you,and at sites in Mexico.

There were Black people in New Spain "Mexico" since the early 1600's.

 

[gogeta4]

https://www.science.org/content/article/america-s-first-cowboys-were-enslaved-africans-ancient-cow-dna-suggests#:~:text=Think “cowboy,” and you,and at sites in Mexico.

There were Black people in New Spain "Mexico" since the early 1600's.

yea cattle tested from old ruins only linked back to a particular cattle from...africa....i wonder who were herding them mfers i dont think it was tony romo.

 

[Fart Keyhole]

Do I think a young black man cringes wearing a cowboy hat in the state of Texas? The state that gave us Juneteenth in recognition of slave owners who refused to let their slaves know that Lincoln had freed them 2 years prior, and did not free their slaves until forced to do so by the Union army? At the school that has a theme song that uses imagery of slavery

YES they cringe if they know even the slightest bit of US history.

I certainly respect your point of view on this, but I think most young black men who don cowboy hats don't worry about the worst of the folk who have shared their headware. It's a style- nothing more.

I will say- the average college sports fan probably holds feelings about fandom that verge on ownership of the kids playing ball. So the bad racial vibes you mention are layered on top of a situation that can get creepy in a hurry.

But again, most kids are (rightly) focused on doing what they can, getting what they can, and making a name for themselves.