Lee transfer to boost O-line
Hurricanes secure commitment of center from UCF
The Hurricanes added crucial depth on the offensive line through the transfer portal on Sunday evening.
After visiting Coral Gables over the weekend, Matt Lee, a center from UCF, announced his commitment to Miami on Twitter. Lee, an Oviedo native, chose the Hurricanes over Oklahoma.
Lee, who posted on Twitter that he had two years of eligibility remaining, was not a highly touted prospect coming out of high school. He was rated a three-star prospect and the No. 171 tackle in the 2019 class in 247Sports’ composite rankings.
However, Lee developed into one of the nation’s top centers while in Orlando. He earned the third-highest offensive grade (83.6) among centers from Pro Football Focus this season. He had an 80.6 run-blocking grade and a 90.3 pass-blocking grade in 1,059 snaps this season.
Lee, who is listed at 6-4 and 290 pounds, did not allow a sack and gave up just four quarterback hurries in 2022, according to Pro Football Focus. The site named him to its all-AAC first team.
Jakai Clark was the Hurricanes’ primary center last season. He played in 11 of the Hurricanes’ 12 games, missing one game due to injury. Clark had a 57.6 offensive grade in 2022 with a 57.9 pass-blocking grade and a 58.2 run-blocking grade.
Jonathan Denis, who transferred from Oregon to Miami before the season, also played four games at center, starting two. He suffered a season-ending injury late in the season.
Lee is the second offensive lineman to transfer to the Hurricanes this offseason, joining former Alabama offensive lineman Javion Cohen.