Miami Hurricanes center Matt Lee sees “deep, talented” OL room, eyes winning conference championship
UCF transfer center Matt Lee is a big part of a revamped Miami Hurricanes offensive line that struggled tremendously a year ago. In fact, when the Miami Hurricanes kick off the season against Miami (Ohio), there will be four new starters. Gone are 2022 starters John Campbell, Jakai Clark, Justice Oluwaseun and DJ Scaife, and new faces include Javion Cohen (Alabama transfer left guard), Matt Lee (UCF transfer center), and 5-star signees Francis Mauigoa (expected to start at right tackle) and Samson Okunlola (will compete to start at left tackle). The lone holdover expected to start: Jalen Rivers, who could work at right guard or left tackle (where he started in the spring). Plus the team should have former starting LT Zion Nelson back off recurring knee issues. Anez Cooper is also a second-year guard who started games last year.
So yes, this is a much different and more talented OL than a year ago.
“I think me and Javion coming through the portal and also guys like Jalen Rivers and Anez Cooper and the new freshman Francisco Mauigoa and Samson Okunlola and a couple of other guys as well – we’re tough, we’re going to get after it,” Lee said. “We’re going to work as hard as Coach (Mario) Cristobal and Coach (Alex) Mirabal push us on any given day.
“We just have to hang our hats on being the toughest, meanest guys on the field every single snap, every single game. It doesn’t matter. Always be able to rely on us five no matter what.”
Lee says Miami coaches made it clear how much he was needed when he was in the transfer process, recounting how Mario Cristobal told him “You’re our guys, we need you here.”
A year ago Miami ranked No. 95 in the nation in rushing offense and No. 108 in sacks allowed last year.
Mario Cristobal at ACC Media Day: There is no sugarcoating things, hard work is getting put in and strides are being made … S Kam Kinchens: We don’t need hype, are just going about our business … and I want a national championship banner … Cristobal knows the task at hand and says while there is no “magic elixir,” he knows what it will take to get Miami back … Cristobal on Tuesday: “It’s been a great offseason … (we are) making change instead of making noise” … QB Tyler Van Dyke excited about offense and this year’s team, says he’s worked hard on one particular dimension of his game
So it’s on Lee and his fellow linemen to change that.
“When I came in it was when Francis and Samson came in,” Lee said. “Still outside of them there are 7, 8, 9 guys you can throw in that have the mental and physical side to go perform. … Outside of them me and Javion and Jalen and Anez and Zion with his injury trying to come back – it’s a deep, talented room that we can have success all year with.”
Lee also said that he’s excited what this new offense under Shannon Dawson can do. He pointed to QB Tyler Van Dyke as “real professional.”
“He’s mature, disciplined, no BS,” Lee said. “On the football field he knows what he’s doing, right? He knows schematically what we’re running, what we need to do. He’s done a tremendous job since before I got here, continuing to build those qualities.”
Lee will be the guy in the middle of it all on offense. He chose to transfer to Miami after allowing no sacks and no QB hits in 579 reps last year at UCF, per Pro Football Focus.
“I’ve always loved The U just as a Florida guy,” Lee said. “After getting down, talking to coach (Alex) Mirabal, coach (Mario) Cristobal – the vibe, work ethic, discipline of coaches and players, it all made sense for me. It was really a no-brainer, and I could have gone to a bunch of places.”
Overall at UCF Lee played 40 games in the last four seasons. Per PFF, Lee was at an elite 90.6 pass blocking level this past season with a very strong 80.6 run blocking grade and 83.7 overall offensive grade in 1,059 total reps (70 is considered a good grade).
He also graded out at 75.6 in 705 reps in 2021 (81.7 pass blocking, 70.8 run blocking).
His 90.6 grade is the highest for a returning center in college football.
“The accolades and all that stuff is cool – I don’t really care about that,” Lee said. “I want to win games, right? I want to win the conference championship. I want to go all the way, all that. All that comes with that because individual stuff is awesome, but it doesn’t really matter. All that matters is the team, winning the team, going as far as you can get the team to go.
“We are going day by day, working every single day and not losing sight.”
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