The countdown is on for one of the most anticipated commitments in the 2027 recruiting class. Mark Matthews, the nation's No. 1 offensive tackle and No. 3 overall player, will announce his college decision live on Friday at 5:30 p.m. ET on the CBS Sports College Football YouTube channel.
This isn't just any recruit—Matthews is the kind of prospect who can reshape an entire offensive line. The Fort Lauderdale, Florida, standout has narrowed his choice to four powerhouse programs: Texas A&M, Miami, LSU, and Georgia. Each school is making an all-out push to land the 6-foot-6, 300-pound phenom, and for good reason.
"Everyone wants him, and that's because he's one of the few guys in the class that has the chance to be a left tackle," says 247Sports National Scouting Director Andrew Ivins. In the world of offensive line recruiting, that's about as high praise as it gets.
What sets Matthews apart? It starts with his rare ability to bend. For offensive tackles, hip and knee flexibility is everything—it's what allows them to maintain leverage in a kick-slide, absorb power from pass rushers, and stay balanced through the whistle. Matthews doesn't just have it; he's the best in his class. At a recruiting event, he even won a limbo contest—yes, at 6-foot-6 and 300 pounds—making it look effortless.
Matthews' path to the top hasn't been typical. He didn't start playing football until his freshman year at Florida powerhouse St. Thomas Aquinas, spending most of his earlier years on the basketball court. He was slated for junior varsity as a ninth grader, but that plan lasted about a day. He got called up to varsity the night before the season opener.
Even more surprising? Matthews began his football career on defense. As a sophomore, he opened the season with a sack in a nationally televised game on ESPN against Las Vegas' Bishop Gorman High School. Once he switched to offense, his combination of size, athleticism, and raw potential turned him into the prototype every college recruiter dreams of.
When Ivins watches Matthews on film, he sees flashes of Tampa Bay Buccaneers star Tristian Wirfs—a comparison that speaks volumes about the kind of future this young tackle could have. For the four finalists in this race, Friday can't come soon enough.