Matt Lee wants Miami football OL being the meanest and toughest
Speaking at ACC Kickoff on Tuesday, center Matt Lee wants the offensive line for the Miami football team to be the meanest and toughest. Lee spoke about a pair of returnees, the star incoming freshmen and fellow transfer Javion Cohen and the work ethic of the Miami OL entering the 2023 season.
Lee transferred to the Miami football program during the offseason from Central Florida. Pro Football Focus graded Lee as the highest-rated center returning to college football in 2023. Cohen (who transferred from Alabama) and Lee will provide Miami with experience and leadership on the 2023 offensive line.
Lee stated he chose Miami because of “the work ethic, the discipline, the type of guys (Mario Cristobal, OL coach Alex Mirabal and quarterback Tyler Van Dyke) they are, the type of guy I am and what I want to be a part of.” It is clear that Lee will be a leader on the OL and fits the culture Cristobal is trying to build.
Cohen and Lee are projected starters on the Miami OL in 2023 with Zion Nelson, Jalen Rivers and incoming freshman Francis Mauigoa. Nelson is returning from injury. If Nelson is not ready to begin the season, Anez Cooper is the leading candidate to be the fifth starter. Lee stated his expectations.
"“Yeah, 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. We’re going to work as hard as Coach Cristobal and Coach 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…Yeah, probably just a work ethic, disciplined guy. Out of high school, I didn’t have really any offers at the FBS level. I had a couple. I had two of them.Under-recruited, not really appreciated throughout that process. Then throughout college, I kind of built that repertoire up. By the time I went in the transfer portal, I could have gone pretty much anywhere in the country, but I always pride myself on being the hardest worker, most disciplined, most mentally focused, and understanding of the mental side of the game. Yeah.”"
The Miami football team will be deeper, more experienced and more talented on the OL in 2023. Lee has quickly become a leader for Miami. It is clear that Lee has expectations for what the OL can be this season and will push his teammates to get there. Miami has a good mix of freshmen, returnees and transfers on the 2023 OL.
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Cristobal expects his team to outwork opponents. Cohen and Lee have played for successful programs and know what it takes to win. One play can often turn a game. Lee gets that to be successful, Miami has to play tough on every snap. Cristobal has stated since being hired that the line of scrimmage sets the foundation for success.