Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Stage not too big for freshman Lee
9/14/2016 5:30:00 PM | Football
Rookie is second on team in receiving
MURFREESBORO - A year ago, Middle Tennessee freshman Ty Lee wasn't thinking about donning the blue and white for the Blue Raiders, let alone starting for them.
Before he ever stepped foot in Murfreesboro, Lee played receiver and running back at Colquitt County High School under the tutelage of legendary high school coach Rush Propst, who is most famous for leading Hoover High School (Ala.) in the MTV series "Two-A-Days."
As a senior, Lee caught 58 passes for 928 yards and nine touchdowns and added 826 yards and five scores on the ground for CCHS. He was named the Georgia 6A Athlete of the Year while helping to lead the Packers to a 30-game winning streak and two-straight state titles. They also were named High School Football America's national high school champion in 2015.
When injuries rocked the Middle Tennessee wide receiving corps before this season started, Lee's name was called in Week 1 to make his first career start in his first career game against Alabama A&M, just months after he arrived on campus in July to start preseason camp.
"We haven't eased him into it," MT head coach Rick Stockstill said. "He's started these last two games and has held his own."
With the experience of playing in big games during Georgia's high school state tournament at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Lee knew what it felt like to play on a big stage. That helped him in Week 1 and again in front of a big crowd at Vanderbilt in Week 2.
Against the Commodores, Lee had six catches for 53 yards and scored his first touchdown as a Blue Raider on a 5-yard pass from quarterback Brent Stockstill in the second quarter.
"Playing in Atlanta in the dome really set the stage for me," he said. "I played there like four or five times, so I was kind of used to the atmosphere.
"I've been playing well and making catches and stuff, and I scored my first touchdown the other night. That was a great experience."
What has turned into a great start to Lee's college career through two games almost never materialized. He originally was committed to Georgia Southern before switching to Middle Tennessee on National Signing Day in 2016.
His decision to switch commitments came easily because of similar offensive systems run at MT and Colquitt County. Lee also said Blue Raider offensive coordinator Tony Franklin factored into his choice because of his similarities to Propst.
"Running the spread at Colquitt is really the same," Lee said. "Most of the play calls are the same, so I was used to that when I first got here.
"[Coach Propst] and Tony Franklin are the same, they're like twins."
Though one of the smallest players on the team at 5-foot-9 and 155 pounds, Lee has shown an ability to get open because of his quickness and feel for the game, according to Coach Stockstill. He also shows great intangibles you rarely see in true freshmen.
"He gets overwhelmed because of his size, he gets overpowered a bit, but he has a great competitive spirit, he competes, he listens, he's coachable, he works – he made a lot of mistakes against Vanderbilt, but he did some good things, too," Stockstill said.
With two games in the books and plenty more hopefully to come in his Middle Tennessee career, Lee is working hard in the weight room to try and get some meat on his small frame.
Perhaps just as important as transforming his body, he is also working at meshing more with his teammates and having fun.
"I'm just out here trying to have fun in my first year," he said. "I'm trying to get used to college football and trying to get right with Brent and Richie [James] and the other offensive guys. The older receivers treat me like a little brother and teach me what I need to learn. They're like brothers to me already."
After two games, Lee is second on the team with 10 receptions and third with 95 yards. If he continues to work hard and show consistency, Blue Raider fans should get used to seeing his name in the starting lineup. He may be there for a long time to come.
Before he ever stepped foot in Murfreesboro, Lee played receiver and running back at Colquitt County High School under the tutelage of legendary high school coach Rush Propst, who is most famous for leading Hoover High School (Ala.) in the MTV series "Two-A-Days."
As a senior, Lee caught 58 passes for 928 yards and nine touchdowns and added 826 yards and five scores on the ground for CCHS. He was named the Georgia 6A Athlete of the Year while helping to lead the Packers to a 30-game winning streak and two-straight state titles. They also were named High School Football America's national high school champion in 2015.
When injuries rocked the Middle Tennessee wide receiving corps before this season started, Lee's name was called in Week 1 to make his first career start in his first career game against Alabama A&M, just months after he arrived on campus in July to start preseason camp.
"We haven't eased him into it," MT head coach Rick Stockstill said. "He's started these last two games and has held his own."
With the experience of playing in big games during Georgia's high school state tournament at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Lee knew what it felt like to play on a big stage. That helped him in Week 1 and again in front of a big crowd at Vanderbilt in Week 2.
Against the Commodores, Lee had six catches for 53 yards and scored his first touchdown as a Blue Raider on a 5-yard pass from quarterback Brent Stockstill in the second quarter.
"Playing in Atlanta in the dome really set the stage for me," he said. "I played there like four or five times, so I was kind of used to the atmosphere.
"I've been playing well and making catches and stuff, and I scored my first touchdown the other night. That was a great experience."
What has turned into a great start to Lee's college career through two games almost never materialized. He originally was committed to Georgia Southern before switching to Middle Tennessee on National Signing Day in 2016.
His decision to switch commitments came easily because of similar offensive systems run at MT and Colquitt County. Lee also said Blue Raider offensive coordinator Tony Franklin factored into his choice because of his similarities to Propst.
"Running the spread at Colquitt is really the same," Lee said. "Most of the play calls are the same, so I was used to that when I first got here.
"[Coach Propst] and Tony Franklin are the same, they're like twins."
Though one of the smallest players on the team at 5-foot-9 and 155 pounds, Lee has shown an ability to get open because of his quickness and feel for the game, according to Coach Stockstill. He also shows great intangibles you rarely see in true freshmen.
"He gets overwhelmed because of his size, he gets overpowered a bit, but he has a great competitive spirit, he competes, he listens, he's coachable, he works – he made a lot of mistakes against Vanderbilt, but he did some good things, too," Stockstill said.
With two games in the books and plenty more hopefully to come in his Middle Tennessee career, Lee is working hard in the weight room to try and get some meat on his small frame.
Perhaps just as important as transforming his body, he is also working at meshing more with his teammates and having fun.
"I'm just out here trying to have fun in my first year," he said. "I'm trying to get used to college football and trying to get right with Brent and Richie [James] and the other offensive guys. The older receivers treat me like a little brother and teach me what I need to learn. They're like brothers to me already."
After two games, Lee is second on the team with 10 receptions and third with 95 yards. If he continues to work hard and show consistency, Blue Raider fans should get used to seeing his name in the starting lineup. He may be there for a long time to come.
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