Fort Lauderdale (Fla. ) St. Thomas Aquinas five-star offensive lineman Mark Matthews arrived in Baton Rouge on Tuesday for an unofficial trip with Lane Kiffin and the LSU Tigers amid an aggressive recruitment.
Matthews is rated as the No. 1 offensive tackle in America, with Kiffin and the coaching staff in the Bayou State among the four candidates.
The 6-foot-6, 300-pound Florida native has gotten offers from institutions such as the LSU Tigers, Nebraska Cornhuskers, Miami Hurricanes, Texas A&M Aggies, Alabama Crimson Tide, and Georgia Bulldogs, among others.
However, as evaluators drool over his potential, rivals have surfaced this offseason for the player with exceptional physical and athletic qualities after a tremendous surge.
High-upside offensive tackle prospect with excellent physical and athletic qualities for the position. Measured at 6-foot-6 and roughly 280 pounds, with good length prior to his junior season. According to Rivals, he gained around 15 pounds to his body early in the offseason before his junior year.
Has an excellent physique for an offensive lineman, with minimal bad weight and significant bulk in his lower body, which provides a firm foundation. Tests well as a powerful athlete at the combine. New to football, having started playing the sport as a freshman in high school. As a sophomore, he took over as the left tackle for South Florida juggernaut St. Thomas Aquinas.
A quick mover with superb mobility abilities. Despite playing offensive line for less than a year, he already has a smooth kick slide.
Matthews has reduced his list to four schools, with the LSU Tigers joining the Miami Hurricanes, Texas A&M Aggies, and Georgia Bulldogs as the finalists heading into a crucial phase in his recruiting.
Kiffin and his crew have gained traction in Matthews’ recruitment recently, with offensive line coach Eric Wolford applying a full-court push on the No. 1 player at his position.
Now, the No. 3 overall prospect in the 2027 recruiting cycle has traveled to Baton Rouge after attending camps on Tuesday, according to LSU Tigers On SI sources.
Heading into official visits this summer, the Miami Hurricanes are now seen as the frontrunners in his recruitment, but the LSU Tigers are not giving up.
“Coach (Alex) Mirabal, coach (Mario) Cristobal, and they are right down the road,” Matthews said of the Hurricanes.
Now, as the offseason progresses, the LSU Tigers will want to build momentum with Kiffin and Co. getting face time with the top offensive lineman in the country.
