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Jimbo Fisher explains decision to name Sam Matthews 12th Man
By Ethan Stone
Published:
Jimbo Fisher explained the decision that went into LB Sam Matthews being named this year’s 12th Man.
The honor and No. 12 jersey goes to the player who best exemplifies idea of “unity, loyalty, and the willingness of Aggies to serve when called to do so.” As Fisher explained Wednesday, Matthews fits the bull perfectly.
Matthews carved out a role on special teams with the Aggies and played a key role in Texas A&M’s game against Florida following a flu outbreak among the team. He stepped in and totaled 6 tackles, which is half of his career total in College Station thus far.
Check out what the TAMU head coach had to say below:
“Sam has been here a long time, he exemplifies all the things as a person, qualities of who he is as a human being and what he stands for, his hard work, his ethic. He’s been a walk-on for a long time and he came back this year to get a year back and to walk on and he didn’t have to, he’s already played a lot of football. We got eligibility through the NCAA to get an extra year to come back for a semester. How much he loves football and what he did in the building and contributions on the kickoff team and all the special teams. He’s a starter on all of our special teams and who he is and who he is as a person. Every day out there. I can’t think of a time when he took a play off, I really don’t. You watch practice, his effort, his tenacity, high character and I said this year there were as many guys to choose from this year, more so than any other team this year in that role that could have fallen into that. So it was a very big award for Sam and very big for us, we understand how important it is and I think he’ll represent the 12th man very well.”
Texas A&M kicks off its 2023 season against New Mexico at 7 p.m. Saturday on ESPN.
Ethan Stone is a Tennessee graduate and loves all things college football and college basketball. Firm believer in fouling while up 3.
