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While Idaho linebacker David Vobora was being recognized on ESPN as this year’s "Mr. Irrelevant" - the final player selected Sunday in the NFL Draft - James Lee was on the telephone.
It was the Cleveland Browns who were anxious to offer the South Carolina State All-American offensive guard a free agent deal.
One hour later, Lee and his agent reached a two-year agreement with the Browns, sending the 2007 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Offensive Lineman of the Year from one "Dawg Pound" in Orangeburg to another in the Midwest.
“Everybody wants to get drafted, but I’m just glad that it’s all over and I know where I’ll be spending my next two years at,” Lee said in a telephone interview.
In signing the 6-5,305-pound Lee and reuniting him with former University of Georgia teammate defensive back Sean Jones, the Browns get a mainstay on the Bulldogs’ offensive line the past three seasons. As a senior, Lee helped the SCSU offense lead the MEAC in averaging 401.1 yards per game and second in points scored at 26.7 per game and was a four-time MEAC Offensive Lineman of the Week recipient.
One of Lee’s best performances came against Hampton when he graded 84 percent, allowed no sacks and no pressures, seven cut blocks, five domination blocks and two knockdown blocks. Lee accomplished this mostly lining up against preseason MEAC Defensive Player of the Year Kendall Langford, who was drafted in the third round by the Miami Dolphins.
Another defensive lineman Lee faced during the regular season, defensive end William Hayes of Winston-Salem State, was drafted in the fourth round by Tennessee. The Titans and Browns are slated to meet Dec. 7 in Nashville, Tenn.
“I’m actually proud of both of them,” Lee said. “There’s no hard feelings about it.”
It initially appeared as though Chicago and Jacksonville would draft Lee after inviting him for a visit earlier this week. Both teams instead went other directions, while the Browns did not select a single offensive lineman.
Although the Browns’ Web site indicated the offensive line was one of team’s deepest and strongest positions, Lee said Cleveland was very interested in getting even younger in that area and see him as a player with a promising future as a tackle.
“They had contacted me all through the week to let me know that I was one of their top players, but they only had four picks,” Lee said. “They called me during the draft to let me know that I was one of their top prospects.”
Lee had initially expressed his desire to play guard in the NFL, but said his experience playing tackle this season will make it an easy transition. He reports to rookie camp this Thursday to start what Lee hopes is a career which will be as successful in Cleveland as another former Bulldog - Hall of Fame fullback Marion Motley.
“Right now, I plan to just go in and work as hard as I can and let it be,” he said. “I would love to be a Hall of Famer and my plans are to work to be the best.”