Texas A&M LB Sam Mathews Delivers In Loss To Oklahoma State
HOUSTON -- On a night that many Texas A&M fans will forget in the grand history of Aggie football, Sam Mathews will have a handful of moments to remember.
Mathews, a longtime Aggie fan and voted on by coaches as this year's 12th Man, made his first career start in the home of his favorite NFL team. The Houston native stockpiled tackles as Oklahoma State moved the sticks up and down the turf en route to a 31-23 win in the TaxAct Texas Bowl.
But for Mathews, in what likely will be his final game, the moment served as a full-circle ending. In front of his home crowd, he delivered.
"This was quite the ending to my journey," said Mathews postgame inside NRG Stadium. "That pick, this game, my start, it's been so surreal. These last couple hours have been a lot to take in."
Oklahoma State Cowboys running back Ollie Gordon II (0) is tackled by Texas A&M Aggies linebacker Sam Mathews (12) in the second half at NRG Stadium.
Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports
Mathews was one of six players making his first career start Wednesday night in front of a crowd of over 70,000. With opt-outs and the transfer portal running rampant, interim coach Elijah Robinson carried the "next man up" mentality throughout practice.
One would never notice a difference between backup and starter based on Mathews' consistency, who finished with a team-leading 14 tackles. During the third quarter, his tackle on Doak Walker Award winner Ollie Gordon forced the Cowboys to punt after failing to pick up the first.
But the highlight moment came with 11 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. OSU's Alan Bowman tried to go deep on third-and-9, but he overshot Rashod Owens and connected with Mathews in coverage for his first career pick.
"I was just staying high," Mathews said. "The guys were playing inside and underneath leverage, so I just had a simple job. I just really had to roof all the routes and lucky enough, the ball got placed in a perfect spot for me to get a pick.
"That's probably the No. 1 moment in my life."
A win would have made it sweeter, though, but the Aggies were down and out from the jump. Nearly a dozen starters either opted out or elected to transfer before kickoff. One play into the theatrics, and starting quarterback Jaylen Henderson was ruled out after suffering an injury on his non-throwing shoulder.
Freshman Marcel Reed kept A&M afloat, throwing for 361 yards while rushing for another 29 yards and a touchdown. The dual-threat freshman built a rapport with Jahdae Walker and Moose Muhammad, two of three active scholarship receivers.
Reed's performance should draw national attention after helping bring A&M back down by 18 at halftime. Mathews, who primarily saw reps on special teams and scout play in practice, expected nothing less after facing the Nashville native daily.
"That kid is going to be special," Mathews said of Reed. "Going on scout team against him as a quarterback, you're talking about platform throws, just making defenders look silly.
"I have high hopes for the kid. I think he's going to take us far."
While Reed will have another season in College Station, Mathews' time is up. His next adventure will likely reside outside the gridiron, although his heart will always be internally locked with the team.
Mathews' unwavering fear set the tone on defense, especially on critical drives in the second half to make things interesting. His hit on Gordon was a tone-setter for younger players to follow.
Gordon and Mathews exchanged words following the tackle. Mathews chuckled when asked what was said.
"He told me good hit," said Mathews.
Did he really, though?
"Nah, that's not what he said," the linebacker joked.
