Miami Football Making a Strong Push for 5-Star OT Mark Matthews
As spring football approaches in Coral Gables, Mario Cristobal and his Miami staff are already deep into shaping the future of the program. And when it comes to building a dominant offensive line, few names are more important on their 2027 recruiting board than Mark Matthews.
Matthews, a 6-foot-5, 300-pound offensive tackle out of St. Thomas Aquinas in Fort Lauderdale, is not just one of the top linemen in the country-he’s one of the best overall prospects, period.
Ranked as the No. 1 offensive tackle and the No. 2 player nationally in the 247Sports Composite for the 2027 class, Matthews is a game-changer in the trenches. He’s the kind of player you build an offensive identity around.
And here’s the kicker: Matthews is clearly feeling the love from Miami. In a recent interview, he didn’t hold back on how much Cristobal and offensive line coach Alex Mirabal have meant to him during the recruiting process. “They are always going to have a special place in my heart,” Matthews said-words that carry real weight when you're talking about a player with nearly 30 offers from top-tier programs across the country.
Miami has been aggressive on the recruiting trail under Cristobal, especially when it comes to the offensive line. Just last cycle, they landed Jackson Cantwell, the No. 1 tackle in the 2026 class. Adding Matthews in 2027 would be another massive win for a program that’s clearly prioritizing elite talent up front.
There’s also a hometown angle here that can’t be ignored. Matthews plays just a short drive away from Miami’s campus, and staying close to home could be a big factor.
Playing in front of friends and family, representing South Florida, and continuing the pipeline from powerhouse St. Thomas Aquinas to The U?
That’s a compelling pitch-and one Cristobal knows how to deliver.
While nothing is set in stone yet, Miami is firmly in the mix. Matthews has made it clear he’s listening, and the Hurricanes are doing everything they can to make Coral Gables feel like the right fit. If they can land him, pairing Matthews with Cantwell would give Miami back-to-back elite tackle recruits-something that could set the tone for the program’s offensive identity for years to come.
For now, Matthews’ recruitment remains wide open, but there’s no question: Miami is in this fight, and they’re swinging hard.