Miami Hurricanes C Matt Lee sees chemistry building on the offensive line, excited about upcoming open scrimmage
When the first-team Miami Hurricanes OL lines up on Saturday for the first offensive play of the first fall scrimmage at Hard Rock Stadium, it will be a much different looking group than Canes fans saw a year ago.
There’s UCF transfer center Matt Lee. Alabama transfer left guard Javion Cohen. 5-star signee Francis Mauigoa is expected to start at right tackle. Jalen Rivers will be at left tackle vs. the guard spot he played a year ago, and Anez Cooper rounds out the starters at guard after getting starts late last year.
A lot of just how much better the Miami offense can be under Shannon Dawson hinges on how these guys up front play.
Lee knows that all too well. And he welcomes anyone who questions how good this line will be.
“(The progress and bond) continues to grow every single day,” Lee said. “Working together out there – camp you are up here all day. Being around the guys every day, all day, build the chemistry. It keeps going like that.”
Lee also talked about a couple of the other O line projected starters.
Of OG Anez Cooper, Lee said, “He’s a big, imposing dude, real smart. I see all parts of his game continuing to develop. I expect him to have a great year.”
And of the freshman Francis Mauigoa, Lee said, “Physically, mentally – way above what you’d expect of a 17 year old, newly 18 year old. Every day in camp he continues to grow. Dedicated, smart. He really gets after it. He’ll be a special player.”
Lee also said he’s looking forward to Miami’s first fall scrimmage.
“It’s awesome,” he said. ‘This whole week is preparing for the scrimmage. It’ll be really good – the scrimmage aspect of it. To get that experience will be good.”
For Lee and this Miami team, yesterday was the first fall practice in full pads. He says that it was “super physical.”
“OL vs. DL, we’re hitting either way, just with shoulder pads on,” Lee said. “We’ve been physical since we started.”
*Lee said that DT Branson Deen is “having a great camp. He’s not a little guy. He’s an experienced guy, extremely smart on the defensive line, explosive, quick, knows how to use momentum.”
He also said of going against Miami DT Leonard Taylor that “I go against him a bunch – iron sharpens iron.”
And Lee said that DE/DT Rueben Bain, a freshman, has a bright future.
“He’s going to be a really, really good, special player,” Lee said. “He knows what he’s doing every play. At such a young age, that’s impressive.”
The post Miami Hurricanes C Matt Lee sees chemistry building on the offensive line, excited about upcoming open scrimmage appeared first on On3.
