Illinois 2028 QB Matthew Lee already popping on recruiting boards

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG

If you can spin it, they will find you. From the Parkridge Hawks, soon to be at Loyola Academy, college programs already scouting 2028 Illinois quarterback Matthew Lee (6-3, 175). The eighth grader helped his cause over the summer months competing at college camps and followed it up with a strong season against 13u defenders. The play led to Lee receiving game day invites during the 2023 season.

The offense Lee executed last fall was tailor made for his talents.

“We ran a Spread offense,” Lee stated. “We threw the ball about 70 to 80 percent of the time. We had so many weapons on the outside. My receivers were good. We’d run zone read concepts out of those concepts, and we’d run some RPO (run-pass option).”

The game reps helped Lee take his game to new levels.

“My mental side improved a lot from this year to last year; knowing where to go with the ball,” Lee said. “My leadership improved as I matured. I was keeping everything under control.”

Asked what motivates and drives him on the field, Lee replied, “My love for the game. I have played it since I was a young kid in the backyard with my dad. My dad played at Yale. He started at Wisconsin and then transferred to Yale. I grew up around the game and loved it as I got older.”

A strong foundation is set as Lee heads to the high school ranks.

“My biggest strengths are being a leader and making everyone around me better,” Lee shared. “My decision making and taking care of the football are strengths based off the defensive looks and knowing where to go with the ball. The physical stuff, I am in a good spot. I believe my two biggest strengths are being a leader and helping my team win.”

Extra reps under watchful eyes are helping prepare Lee for the 2024 schedule.

“I work with my dad mostly, but I am also getting reps with Brad Maendler with QB X (Excelerate) in Ohio and with coach Greg Holcomb at Next Level,” Lee stated.

As Lee progresses, next level scouts are paying attention.

“This summer I went to three recruiting camps at Notre Dame, Wisconsin, and Northwestern,” Lee said. “After they saw me throw, Notre Dame and Wisconsin invited me on game-day visits. I saw Wisconsin play Northwestern and I saw Notre Dame against USC in the lights; that was an awesome experience. That motivated me to keep working hard to be in that position one day.”

Lee continued, “My main focus is to be the best high school quarterback I can be and to be the best teammate I can be. If I get those two things right, everything will fall into place if I am focused on that.”

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