Malakai Lee

Physical Profile

Listed at 6-6, 318 lbs. Taller than 42% and heavier than 85% of 2026 Offensive Tackle prospects in the SEC Scouts database (182 with a listed size).

Play Style

Lee is a physical, run-first tackle who likes to move people. On film he gets his hands inside, leans into the defender and drives, and he is at his best on down blocks, angle blocks and double teams, then climbing to the second level. He is a people-mover, not a finesse blocker. In pass protection he relies on length and mass to absorb rushers and is usually effective, though he plays upright too often. Coaches and local media also praise his effort, leadership and toughness.

Strengths

• Movement skills for his size: he played left tackle at 6-7 and 325+ lb, and film shows easy movement when he pulls or climbs to the second level. That combination of size and movement is why he ranks in the top 150 nationally.
• Down, angle and combo blocking: he gets to his landmark on down and angle blocks and does well on double teams, where he can move the defensive tackle and then climb to a linebacker. That skill fits directly with gap and duo run concepts.
• Finishing strength: once his hands land inside, he drives defenders well past the point of attack. His forward lean wears opponents down over four quarters, and evaluators describe him as tenacious and physical.
• Production and pedigree: he was the 2025 Gatorade Hawaii POY and Mariota Award winner, and he anchored Kamehameha's line on back-to-back runs to the HHSAA state championships. He also played in the Navy All-American Bowl and was invited to the Polynesian Bowl.

Areas to Improve

• Pad level and lower-body leverage: at 6-7 he tends to play tall. In high school he beat opponents on strength alone, which will not work against Big Ten defensive linemen who get low on him. He needs to sit into his hips and win with bend, not upper-body muscle.
• Pass-set consistency against speed: against Hawaii competition his length and mass covered mistakes. Against college edge rushers he needs a more consistent kick-slide, better timing with his hands, and a shorter first step so speed-to-power rushers cannot turn the corner or collapse his anchor.
• Body composition and stamina: at about 349 lb, his top priority in the strength program is reshaping his weight and keeping his range of motion. That will help him stay effective late in games and in long drives with no substitutions.

College Projection

He enrolled at Michigan as part of the 2026 class and is now working at right tackle under Kyle Whittingham's staff. Andrew Sprague is the starting right tackle and Blake Frazier starts at left tackle, so Lee is a depth piece this fall. He is also a candidate for the sixth-offensive-lineman role ('Rhino'), competing with Andrew Babalola in heavy run packages. His size and down-blocking already suit that role. Expect limited snaps in 2026 and a real push for a starting job in 2027. Once his leverage issue is fixed, he projects as a multi-year starter at right tackle, with left tackle possible if his pass sets become more consistent.

NFL Outlook

He has a legitimate Day 2 NFL profile if development goes well. Few players combine 6-7 and 340+ lb with his movement skills, and NFL teams draft for tackle size and length. The risks are playing too tall, which could push him inside to guard, and managing his weight. If he becomes a two- to three-year starter at right tackle with good pass-protection numbers, he fits the typical Round 2-4 range for that player type. A top-50 pick would require clearly improving his pass sets against speed rushers.

Best Fit

His best fit is a physical, run-heavy offense that uses gap and duo concepts, down blocks and double teams. Michigan's identity is exactly that, and Whittingham's Utah teams also won with big offensive lines, so the fit is strong. He would be less natural in a pure wide-zone, finesse pass-first system that needs a tackle to reach-block and set against speed on the edge every snap. A patient program with a strong strength staff and sixth-lineman packages lets him contribute early while he works on leverage.