5-star Miami football target doubles down on his head-turning Canes interest

With spring football almost here for Miami football, Mario Cristobal is ready to make some splashes when it comes to recruiting. For those of you who follow it closely, you already know that offensive tackle Mark Matthews is high on the board for Cristobal and his staff.

Former Miami QB weighs in on new signal-caller Darian Mensah

Not only is Matthews one of the best lineman in the nation, but he's among the best overall prospects too. The touted playmaker has not shied away in letting everyone know how interested he is in potentially playing for Cristobal and Alex Mirabal. He reminded everyone of that in an interview with On3's EJ Holland:

5-star Mark Matthews is a priority target for Miami and Mario Cristobal

The fact that Matthews told Holland that Miami will always have a special place in his heart is pretty darn telling. The Hurricanes of course are not the only powerhouse looking to land his commitment, as the 6-5, 300-pounder is closing in on 30 offers.

With him being a standout for St. Thomas Aquinas High in Fort Lauderdale, it's easy to see why there could be extra motivation for Matthews to pick the Canes. He'd have a short move to Coral Gables, with his friends and family able to watch him play consistently.

For the 2026 cycle, Cristobal and Miami turned plenty of heads by signing 5-star playmaker Jackson Cantwell, the top-rated tackle in the country. Imagine if Miami is able to do more of the same for '27 by bringing in Matthews too. Those two together would be incredible.

Matthews is ranked five stars, the No. 1 tackle in the country and No. 2 talent nationally per the 247Sports Composite. He's got superstar at the college level written all over him and Miami fans are dreaming of him making plays for his local team. It's totally up in the air if that happens or not, but as we've said before, we love Miami's chances to capture his verbal pledge at some point down the road.