Hurricanes center and UCF alum Matt Lee declares for NFL draft after one year at Miami
12/9/2023
Matt Lee spent only one year in Coral Gables, but it was a successful one.
The veteran center, who transferred from UCF before the 2023 season to the Miami Hurricanes, announced Saturday that he is entering the NFL draft.
“Thank you University of Miami and UCF for an awesome five years,” Lee wrote on social media. “I am declaring for the 2024 NFL draft.”
Lee arrived at UM after four seasons with the Knights, where he became one of the nation’s top centers. He continued to show that level of play at Miami this season.
Lee started every game for the Hurricanes, playing 792 offensive snaps. He earned a 77.4 offensive grade from Pro Football Focus along with an 89.1 pass-blocking grade and a 71.5 run-blocking grade.
Lee’s offensive grade was tied for ninth-best among centers with 500 or more snaps this season. His pass-blocking grade was fourth, and his run-blocking grade was 26th.
ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. ranks Lee the fifth-best center prospect in the draft.
Lee is the fifth Hurricane to either announce they were leaving early or who is expected to turn pro this offseason, joining safeties James Williams and Kam Kinchens, offensive lineman Javion Cohen and defensive lineman Leonard Taylor III.
Thank you University of Miami and UCF for an awesome five years. I am declaring for the 2024 NFL draft. #GoCanes #ChargeOn
— Matt Lee (@matt_lee80) December 9, 2023
Matt Lee spent only one year in Coral Gables, but it was a successful one.
The veteran center, who transferred from UCF before the 2023 season to the Miami Hurricanes, announced Saturday that he is entering the NFL draft.
“Thank you University of Miami and UCF for an awesome five years,” Lee wrote on social media. “I am declaring for the 2024 NFL draft.”
Lee arrived at UM after four seasons with the Knights, where he became one of the nation’s top centers. He continued to show that level of play at Miami this season.
Lee started every game for the Hurricanes, playing 792 offensive snaps. He earned a 77.4 offensive grade from Pro Football Focus along with an 89.1 pass-blocking grade and a 71.5 run-blocking grade.
Lee’s offensive grade was tied for ninth-best among centers with 500 or more snaps this season. His pass-blocking grade was fourth, and his run-blocking grade was 26th.
ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. ranks Lee the fifth-best center prospect in the draft.
Lee is the fifth Hurricane to either announce they were leaving early or who is expected to turn pro this offseason, joining safeties James Williams and Kam Kinchens, offensive lineman Javion Cohen and defensive lineman Leonard Taylor III.
Thank you University of Miami and UCF for an awesome five years. I am declaring for the 2024 NFL draft. #GoCanes #ChargeOn
— Matt Lee (@matt_lee80) December 9, 2023
Players mentioned in this article
Aadyn Sleep-Dalton
James Williams
Javion Cohen
Leonard Taylor
Matt Leemhuis
Recent Stories
How a Wisconsin legend got his German protégé into Badgers pro day
Mar 15, 2024
Marlon Werthmann put his life on hold for the opportunity in front of him Friday at the McClain Center.Werthmann — a 6-foot-4, 290-pound offensive ...
Why former Wisconsin football running back Braelon Allen didn't run the 40 at pro day
Mar 15, 2024
Braelon Allen’s sweat covered his shirt and dripped off his beard as he approached a group of reporters Friday.The former University of Wisconsin football ...
How can UW recruit its best class ever? It starts with these five prospects
By Andy Yamashita
Seattle Times staff reporter
Jedd Fisch has lofty recruiting goals at Washington. He didn’t waste any time laying out his expectations to “do ...
Texas football kicks off spring practice Tuesday. We answer 24 questions for the 2024 team
Things certainly look fresh for the 2024 college football season, especially on the Texas campus.There’s a new conference for the Longhorns, if you haven’t heard. ...
College Football Playoff: Conferences solve their differences (for now) and agree on general framework for 2026 and beyond
The FBS conferences and Notre Dame agreed on Friday to continue the College Football Playoff beyond the 2025 season, signing a memorandum of understanding that paves ...
Latest Player Notes
How a Wisconsin legend got his German protégé into Badgers pro day
Mar 15, 2024
Marlon Werthmann put his life on hold for the opportunity in front of him Friday at the McClain Center.Werthmann ...
Why former Wisconsin football running back Braelon Allen didn't run the 40 at pro day
Mar 15, 2024
Braelon Allen’s sweat covered his shirt and dripped off his beard as he approached a group of reporters Friday.The ...
How can UW recruit its best class ever? It starts with these five prospects
By Andy Yamashita
Seattle Times staff reporter
Jedd Fisch has lofty recruiting goals at Washington. He didn’t waste any ...
Texas football kicks off spring practice Tuesday. We answer 24 questions for the 2024 team
Things certainly look fresh for the 2024 college football season, especially on the Texas campus.There’s a new conference ...
College Football Playoff: Conferences solve their differences (for now) and agree on general framework for 2026 and beyond
The FBS conferences and Notre Dame agreed on Friday to continue the College Football Playoff beyond the 2025 season, signing ...
Ball security, leadership key as Aztecs look to identify starting quarterback
San Diego State seemingly auditions a new starting quarterback on an annual basis.In the past 12 years, the Aztecs have opened ...
Results and more: A look at what happened at Penn State football’s Pro Day inside Holuba Hall
Most of those at Penn State’s Pro Day Friday were relatively quiet throughout the afternoon’s workouts, but there was one ...
Defense dominates first two weeks of Oregon State spring practice as Beavers ready for 2-week breather
CORVALLIS – Oregon State hit the break of spring practices Saturday, not exactly the midpoint but a good place to assess ...
Dillon Gabriel to have similar input, autonomy as Bo Nix had in Oregon’s offense
Published Mar. 16, 2024, 6:26 p.m.By James CrepeaEUGENE — Dillon Gabriel will have much of the same autonomy as Bo Nix did ...
Two transfers, one underclassman who impressed in Missouri football's spring game
With that, spring camp’s a wrap.Missouri football held its Black & Gold spring game Saturday in front of a healthy crowd ...