When Hough High’s Samari Matthews was a freshman, his current high school coach, DeShawn Baker, was coaching at Cox Mill in Cabarrus County.
Cox Mill played Hough, and even though Baker had heard that Matthews might be a special kind of ninth-grader, he was determined to test the young cornerback.
“It’s like, ‘We gotta make sure he can play,’” Baker said. “And he got his first pick off me.
“Pretty quickly, I knew he was different.”
Hough Huskies defensive back Samari Matthews on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025. JEFF SINER [email protected]
Flash forward a few years, and Matthews has become one of the best high school players in America. Now, he is being honored as the top high school football player in North Carolina, winning Mr. Football for the state.
Hough will receive a banner to hang in its gym in Matthews’ honor.
“It’s definitely a blessing,” Matthews said of being named a finalist for the award. “I mean, I didn’t think I’d ever get nominated for Mr. Football. My parents told me. They were pretty excited. (Winning the award) would mean a lot. I think Mr. Football is definitely a big accomplishment, and I’m up there with two other great players (finalists QB Zaid Lott of Providence Day and defensive lineman Aiden Harris of Weddington). Being able to be named with them definitely means a lot.”
Matthews, signed to Texas, is the first defensive player to win the award.
Baker has coached him since his sophomore year, and will coach Matthews for the final time in Thursday’s 8 p.m. state championship game against Raleigh’s Millbrook High.
Hough Huskies head football coach DeShawn Baker stresses a point to an official during action against the South Pointe Stallions in the Keep Pounding Classic on Aug. 22, 2025 at Bank of America Stadium. JEFF SINER [email protected]
“He never complains,” Baker said. “He’s always coaching everybody up. I tell everybody, he’s one of the best kids I’ve ever had. And I’m not just talking playing-wise, just a human being; like the kid will sit there and play tic-tac-toe with my 9-year-old son for 30 minutes, just laughing and joking with him. So he’s just been awesome.
“Man, I’m going to miss him next year. And what better way to go out than to have the last game with him in the state championship?”
What’s ‘Smoke’ all about?
One of the most frequent questions Matthews says he gets is about the origin of his nickname, Smoke.
Hough senior defensive back Samari Matthews (9) defends West Forsyth’s Jaylin Moore (1) during first-quarter action of their Nov. 21, 2025 NCHSAA 8A playoff game. Jonathan Aguallo For The Observer
On his website (yes, he’s got a website), Matthews says the name initially came from him being fast when running track, but it’s evolved to be more about his prowess on the football field. He said he’s not afraid of any challenge in football — or, as the kids say, he wants “all the smoke.”
But as he has climbed the recruiting charts and landed dozens of major college offers, high school teams have shied away from throwing the ball at him.
This season, in 13 games so far, he’s only been thrown at 15 times. He’s intercepted two of them. His ability to take away one side of the field, like a high school version of Deion Sanders, allows Hough to bring an extra player into run defense or shade more safety help to the other side of the field.
Hough senior defensive back Samari Matthews (9) takes the field ahead of the third round of the NCHSAA 8A playoffs against West Forsyth on Nov. 21, 2025. Jonathan Aguallo For The Observer
“The game plan is just to not throw the ball his way,” said Mooresville QB Brody Norman, a three-time offensive player of the year in his conference.
When Norman and Mooresville played Hough in September, Norman said a miscommunication led him to throw the ball toward a receiver being guarded by Matthews.
Matthews intercepted it.
“It’s just not a good situation,” Norman said. “I wish it didn’t happen. But it happened.”
Norman played with Matthews in a middle school all-star game and during his freshman year before he transferred to Mooresville.
“I got to work with him every day,” Norman said. “And I got to see him work, and that is what makes him good, his work ethic. His length helps him out a lot, and he knows how to use his length to his advantage, with the press cover stuff that he does. And his technique, on top of his work ethic and just being a very talented player, it just all comes together.”
Staying humble, looking ahead
Even before that Cox Mill game four years ago, when he intercepted a pass against his future coach’s team, Matthews had become a big recruiting name nationally.
Hough Huskies defensive back Samari Matthews on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025. JEFF SINER [email protected]
That meant being a target every Friday night — and every summer.
“It’s a like a blessing,” Matthews said, “but it’s something you can’t be complacent with. You’ve always got to keep working. Someone is always coming for your spot. So it’s just something I use as fuel to make sure I’m always at my best.”
Matthews said his parents also help with that.
“The people around me, they kind of tell me, I’m not (among the best),” Matthews joked. “I mean, I never really had the image that I was better than anybody. My parents always tell me, ‘You’re not doing enough,’ or ‘You’re still sorry to us,’ so until I get their validation, I can probably just say that I have to keep going.”
Hough Huskies defensive back Samari Matthews on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025. JEFF SINER [email protected]
This season, Hough coach Baker said the Huskies have moved Matthews around in the defensive secondary. He’s got 27 tackles, and the two picks, but he’s often just left outside, guarding the opposing team’s best receiver — and looking at his teammates make plays.
His teammates say he never gets bored.
“I guess he’s just strapping boys down on that side,” Hough lineman Jarvis Potts said. “I guess quarterbacks are scared to throw over there. He’s doing what he’s got to do.”
Potts said he really wishes Matthews could get more action.
“Shoot,” Potts said. “You should throw over there, where we could whoop y’all. Throw over there. Make him look better. Let’s work.”
Previous Mr. Football winners
2020: Henry Rutledge, Charlotte Christian
Spring 2021: Daylan Smothers, Chambers
Fall 2021: Omarion Hampton, Cleveland
2022: Jadyn Davis, Providence Day
2023: Jaydn Davis, Providence Day
2024: Faizon Brandon, Grimsley
This story was originally published December 11, 2025 at 6:00 AM.
Langston Wertz Jr.
The Charlotte Observer
Langston Wertz Jr. is an award-winning sports journalist who has worked at the Observer since 1988. He’s covered everything from Final Fours and NFL to video games and Britney Spears. Wertz — a West Charlotte High and UNC grad — is the rare person who can answer “Charlotte,” when you ask, “What city are you from.”
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