Vad Lee
{{Short description|American football player (born 1993)}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2020}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Vad Lee
| image = Vad Lee 2013.jpg
| caption = Lee in 2013
| current_team =
| number =
| position = Quarterback
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1993|4|27}}
| birth_place = Durham, North Carolina, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 2
| weight_lbs = 213
| high_school = Hillside
(Durham, North Carolina)
| college = Georgia Tech (2011–2013)
James Madison (2014–2015)
| undraftedyear = 2016
| pastteams = * Saskatchewan Roughriders ({{CFL Year|2016}})
- Columbus Lions (2018)*
- DC Defenders ({{XFL Year|2020}})*
- Pittsburgh Maulers ({{USFL Year|2022}})
- BC Lions ({{CFL Year|2023}})*
- Philadelphia Stars ({{USFL Year|2023}})
| status =
| highlights = * Dudley Award (2014 & 2015)
- Third-team FCS All-American (2014)
}}
Lavaedeay Monlique "Vad" Lee (born April 27, 1993) is an American football quarterback who is a free agent. He previously played for the Saskatchewan Roughriders and BC Lions of the Canadian Football League (CFL), Columbus Lions of American Indoor Football (AIF), DC Defenders of the XFL, and Pittsburgh Maulers and Philadelphia Stars of the United States Football League (USFL).
He went to Hillside High School in Durham, North Carolina. Lee is considered to be a skilled dual-threat, athletic quarterback who redshirted as a true freshman at Georgia Tech. Lee played in several games during his redshirt freshman season in 2012 as a backup to starting Georgia Tech quarterback Tevin Washington, and Lee was the Yellow Jackets' starting quarterback during 2013 season. Lee went to Georgia Tech after a successful prep career in North Carolina. In January 2014, Lee transferred to James Madison University.
High school
Lee earned four varsity letters and served three years as a team captain while playing for Hillside under coach Antonio King. Lee led Hillside to the North Carolina state championship in 2010. Lee's high school career totals include: 5,000 passing yards, 1,960 rushing yards, and Lee was responsible for 85 touchdowns. Lee also played wide receiver as a sophomore, producing 1,124 receiving yards and nine touchdowns.
Lee led Hillside to a perfect 16–0 record in 2010 and won the North Carolina 4A State Championship game 40–0 over Davie County at BB&T field in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Lee threw for 264 yards and three touchdown passes in the state championship game, earning MVP honors. Lee's other high school honors include: the Pac-6 Conference Player of the Year, the AP North Carolina state Player of the Year, first team all-state, and MVP of the Offense-Defense All-American Bowl.{{cite news|url=http://www.ramblinwreck.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/lee_vad00.html|title=Vad Lee Profile|publisher=ramblinwreck.com|access-date=November 17, 2012}}{{cite news|url=http://scoutcombines.scout.com/a.z?s=450&p=8&c=1&nid=4307579|title=Vad Lee Profile|publisher=scout.com|access-date=November 23, 2012}}
College
=Georgia Tech=
Lee was recruited by Georgia Tech as a four-star recruit. He received a redshirt season in 2011. Lee played in several games during 2012 football season as a backup to starting Georgia Tech quarterback Tevin Washington. However, Lee saw only limited playing time until Georgia Tech faced North Carolina on November 10, 2012. Lee entered the game at Kenan Memorial Stadium with Tech trailing North Carolina 14–7 in the first quarter, and he never left. Lee made Georgia Tech's triple option offense unstoppable, helping the Yellow Jackets account for 588 yards of offense in a 68–50 win over North Carolina, the most combined points ever in any Atlantic Coast Conference football game. Lee rushed for 112 yards and two touchdowns, and he threw for 169 yards and a touchdown as well.{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/acc/2012/11/10/college-football-georgia-tech-north-carolina-highest-scoring-game-acc-history/1696595/|title=Georgia Tech, UNC combine for 118 points| first=Robert| last=Klemko| publisher=USA Today|date=November 10, 2012|access-date=November 3, 2013}} However, coach Paul Johnson continued to start Washington in every football game during 2012 season, and he rotated the two quarterbacks with their playing time depending on performance during games.{{cite news|url=http://atlanta.sbnation.com/georgia-tech-ncaaf/2012/11/11/3631732/vad-lee-georgia-tech-vs-north-carolina|title=Georgia Tech Vs. North Carolina: Vad Lee steers Yellow Jackets to win in highest-scoring ACC game ever|author=Jack Blanchat|date=November 11, 2012|publisher=sbnation.com|access-date=November 17, 2012}}{{cite news|url=http://www.newsobserver.com/2012/11/14/2483409/vad-lee-is-triumphant-in-his-homecoming.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130130035403/http://www.newsobserver.com/2012/11/14/2483409/vad-lee-is-triumphant-in-his-homecoming.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 30, 2013|title=Vad Lee is triumphant in homecoming|author=W. E. Warnack|date=November 14, 2012|publisher=newsobserver.com|access-date=November 23, 2012}}{{cite news|url=http://blogs.ajc.com/georgia-tech-sports/2012/11/23/tech-upset-bid-starts-in-the-middle/|title=In return home, Lee incinerates Tar Heels|author=Ken Sugiura|date=November 10, 2012|publisher=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|access-date=November 24, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121128052950/http://blogs.ajc.com/georgia-tech-sports/2012/11/23/tech-upset-bid-starts-in-the-middle/|archive-date=November 28, 2012|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/washington-leads-georgia-tech-past-duke-42-24|title=Washington leads Georgia Tech past Duke, 42–24|first=Charles|last=Odum|work=ap.org|date=November 17, 2012|access-date=December 2, 2012|archive-date=February 23, 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130223104120/http://bigstory.ap.org/article/washington-leads-georgia-tech-past-duke-42-24|url-status=dead}} Lee became the Yellow Jackets' starting quarterback at the beginning of the 2013 football season. Lee announced his decision to transfer to another school at the end of the 2013 football season.{{cite web|url=http://www.ramblinwreck.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/010314aaa.html|title=Statements On Vad Lee's Decision To Transfer|work=ramblinwreck.com|date=January 3, 2014|access-date=January 3, 2014}}
=James Madison=
In January 2014, Chip Patterson at CBSsports.com reported Lee would transfer to FCS James Madison for the upcoming spring semester.{{cite web|url=http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/eye-on-college-football/24408445/exgeorgia-tech-qb-vad-lee-headed-to-james-madison|title=Ex-Georgia Tech QB Vad Lee headed to James Madison|work=cbssports.com|date=January 13, 2014|access-date=August 18, 2014}} Lee transferred to JMU due to his familiarity with the Dukes' new head coach, Everett Withers, who had recruited him from his time at North Carolina.{{cite web|url=http://augustafreepress.com/fresh-start-georgia-tech-transfer-vad-lee-looks-lead-jmu-football-turnaround/|title=Fresh start: Georgia Tech transfer Vad Lee looks to lead JMU football turnaround|work=Augusta Free Press|date=August 10, 2014|access-date=August 18, 2014}}
==2014 season==
In his first season with the Dukes, Lee was named the starter at quarterback and would go on to lead the Dukes to a 9–3 regular season along with a trip to the 2014 FCS playoffs. Along the way, Lee would go on to set JMU's single-game passing, completion percentage, single-season touchdown, passing & total-offense records in addition to being named CAA Offensive Player of the Week three times.{{cite web|url=http://jmusports.com/news/2014/11/10/Football_1110141300.aspx|title=Vad Lee Named CAA Offensive Player of the Week|work=JMUsports.com|date=November 10, 2014|access-date=November 11, 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.jmusports.com/news/2014/11/15/Football_1115141129.aspx?path=football|title=Reynolds, #25 JMU Rolls to 55–20 Triumph at #14 Richmond|work=JMUsports.com|date=November 15, 2014|access-date=November 15, 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://caasports.com/news/2014/11/23/FB_1123144412.aspx|title=CAA Football Week 13 Awards|work=CAAsports.com|date=November 24, 2014|access-date=November 24, 2014}} Following a 55–20 JMU victory over rival Richmond on November 15, 2014, Lee was named to the 2014 Walter Payton Award watch list and would ultimately place 4th for that award.{{cite web|url=http://caasports.com/news/2014/11/17/FB_1117143548.aspx|title=Lee, Ricard Added to National Award Watch Lists|work=CAAsports.com|date=November 18, 2014|access-date=November 18, 2014}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=sportsnetwork&page=cfoot2%2Fwriters%2Finfcshuddle%2Farchive%2Fhaley_12_02_2014.htm |title=The Sports Network – Football Championship Subdivision |access-date=December 4, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141209142243/http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=sportsnetwork&page=cfoot2%2Fwriters%2Finfcshuddle%2Farchive%2Fhaley_12_02_2014.htm |archive-date=December 9, 2014 |url-status=dead }} On December 10, 2014, Vad Lee was named the recipient of the 2014 Dudley Award, which is given to the top Division I football player in Virginia over Old Dominion's Taylor Heinicke & Virginia Tech's Kendall Fuller.{{cite web|url=http://www.timesdispatch.com/sports/college/football/jmu-s-lee-wins-dudley-h-sc-s-nance-wins/article_8cebed97-7b9d-5b7a-a938-6b9bb76b5660.html#.VIl__WzriXo.twitter|title=JMU's Lee wins Dudley, H-SC's Nance wins Lanier|work=Richmond Times-Dispatch|date=December 10, 2014|access-date=December 12, 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.jmusports.com/news/2014/12/10/Football_1210143201.aspx|title=Lee Named Dudley Award Winner, State's Top Division I Player|work=JMUSports.com|date=December 10, 2014|access-date=December 12, 2014}} The following week, Lee was named 2014 Associated Press Third Team FCS All-American.{{cite web|url=http://jmusports.com/news/2014/12/17/Football_1217144656.aspx|title=Quarterback Vad Lee Named Third Team AP All-American|work=JMUSports.com|date=December 17, 2014|access-date=December 19, 2014}}
==2015 season==
Prior to the start of the 2015 season, Lee was named to the watch lists for the STATS FCS Offensive Player of the Year (formerly the Walter Payton Award) and the College Football Performance Awards FCS National Performer of the Year Trophy.{{cite web|url=http://caasports.com/news/2015/7/9/FB_0709155136.aspx|title=FCS Offensive Player of the Year Watch List|work=CAASports.com|date=July 13, 2015|access-date=July 13, 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.jmusports.com/news/2015/7/30/Football_0730154447.aspx|title=Vad Lee Named to CFPA FCS National Performer of the Year Watch List|work=JMUSports.com|date=July 30, 2015|access-date=August 3, 2015}} In JMU's 2015 home opening victory against Morehead State, Lee became the first JMU QB to throw for more than 250 yards and rush for more than 100 in a single game. In a week four 48–45 victory against SMU, Lee set a Division I record by becoming the first player to both run and pass for 275 yards in a single game.{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=Erin |date=October 26, 2015 |title=Quarterback Vad Lee out for remainder of season |url=http://www.breezejmu.org/sports/quarterback-vad-lee-out-for-remainder-of-season/article_6d94a8d0-7bf9-11e5-9d3c-033761a8bfd3.html |access-date=June 20, 2016 |website=The Breeze}}{{cite web|title=JMU's Vad Lee still seeking NFL opportunity|url=http://www.foxsports.com/college-football/story/jmu-s-vad-lee-still-seeking-nfl-opportunity-050616|website=Fox Sports|access-date=June 20, 2016}}
After a 7–0 start to the season, Lee suffered a broken foot during the fourth quarter of a 59–49 loss against Richmond. During the game, Lee tied JMU's all-time passing touchdown record with 51 career touchdowns, across just 21 games.{{cite web|title=JMU Quarterback Vad Lee Out Indefinitely with Foot Injury|url=http://www.nbc29.com/story/30350795/jmu-quarterback-vad-lee-out-indefinitely-with-foot-injury|website=nbc29.com|access-date=June 20, 2016|archive-date=June 30, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160630191633/http://www.nbc29.com/story/30350795/jmu-quarterback-vad-lee-out-indefinitely-with-foot-injury|url-status=dead}} Lee was forced to undergo surgery for his foot, ending his final college season. While announcing the end of Lee's career, head coach Everett Withers called him "one of the best players in JMU history."
{{Externalimage
|float=left
|width=200px
|image1=[http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/geot/sports/m-footbl/auto_player/8300362.jpeg GT vs. UNC 11/10/12]
}}
=Statistics=
| class=wikitable style="text-align:center" | |||||||||
| |
! colspan="6" style="background:#e7e3e7;"| Passing ! colspan="3" style="background:#e7e3e7;"| Rushing | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |Year (College)
!|Comp !|Attempts !|Comp% !|Yards !|TDowns !|Intercep. !|Attempts !|Yards !|TDown | |||||||||
| 2011 (GT)
| colspan="9" |{{Abbr|DNP|Did not play}} | |||||||||
| 2012 (GT) | 27 | 56 | 48.2% | 596 | 4 | 3 | 96 | 544 | 9 |
| 2013 (GT) | 82 | 180 | 45.6% | 1,561 | 11 | 10 | 182 | 513 | 8 |
| 2014 (JMU) | 282 | 465 | 60.6% | 3,462 | 30 | 7 | 183 | 826 | 9 |
| 2015 (JMU) | 164 | 240 | 68.3% | 2,190 | 21 | 10 | 109 | 814 | 8 |
| [http://stats.washingtonpost.com/cfb/players.asp?id=203631 Total] | 555 | 941 | 59.0% | 7,809 | 66 | 30 | 570 | 2,697 | 34 |
Professional career
=Saskatchewan Roughriders=
Lee dressed for three games for the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2016 as 3rd string QB, recording one rushing attempt.{{cite web | url=https://www.cfl.ca/players/vad-lee/161792/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171024193145/https://www.cfl.ca/players/vad-lee/161792/ | url-status=dead | archive-date=October 24, 2017 | title=Vad Lee | publisher=cfl.ca | access-date=October 24, 2017}} Lee was cut on August 12, 2016.
=Columbus Lions=
On August 28, 2017, Lee signed with the Columbus Lions for the 2018 season. He was released on February 1, 2018.{{cite web | url=http://www.nationalarenaleague.com/transactions.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180306212441/http://www.nationalarenaleague.com/transactions.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=March 6, 2018 | title=Transactions | publisher=nationalarenaleague.com | access-date=March 6, 2018}}
In February 2019, Lee joined Your Call Football where he was coached by Solomon Wilcots during a 4-game series where fans called the plays through a mobile app.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/26432845/inside-tech-experiment-wants-change-football-forever|title=Inside the tech experiment that wants to change football forever|author= Evans, Dayna|date=April 10, 2019|website=www.espn.com|access-date=July 10, 2019}}
=DC Defenders=
Lee was signed by the DC Defenders of the XFL in December 2019. He was waived during final roster cuts on January 22, 2020.{{cite news |author=Talbot, Damond |title=A Full List of XFL Roster Cuts, Who was released today? |url=https://www.nfldraftdiamonds.com/2020/01/xfl-transactions-9/ |website=NFLDraftDiamonds.com |date=January 22, 2020 |access-date=January 23, 2020}}
Lee signed with the Alphas of The Spring League in May 2021.{{cite tweet |user=TheSpringLeague |title=First look at the #TSLAlphas roster at #TSL2021! |number=1389019179743858688 |date=May 2, 2021 |access-date=June 22, 2021}}
=Pittsburgh Maulers=
He signed with the Pittsburgh Maulers of the United States Football League on May 10, 2022.{{cite tweet |user=USFLMaulers |title=Roster Update |number=1523922294833180672 |date=May 10, 2022 |access-date=May 10, 2022}} Lee led the team to its first win of the season just 5 days later.{{cite tweet |user=USFLMaulers |title=MAULERS WIN MAULERS WIN MAULERS WIN MAULERS WIN MAULERS WIN |number=1525978247023972353 |date=May 15, 2022 |access-date=May 15, 2022}}
Lee was released after the season on January 2, 2023.{{cite tweet |user=USFLMaulers |title=Released |number=1610019241587085313 |date=January 2, 2023 |access-date=January 2, 2023}}
=BC Lions=
Lee signed with the BC Lions of the CFL on January 5, 2023.{{cite web |title=2023 CFL Transactions |url=https://www.cfl.ca/transactions/ |website=CFL.ca |access-date=January 7, 2023}} He was released on February 27, 2023.{{cite web | url=https://www.bclions.com/transactions/ | title=Transactions | publisher=bclions.com | access-date=March 1, 2023}}
=Philadelphia Stars=
On March 19, 2023, Lee signed with the Philadelphia Stars of the United States Football League (USFL).{{cite tweet |user=USFLStars |title=Free Agent Signing |number=1637481926792736770 |date=March 19, 2023 |access-date=March 19, 2023}} The Stars folded when the XFL and USFL merged to create the United Football League (UFL).{{Cite web |last=Seifert |first=Kevin |date=January 1, 2024 |title=Newly formed United Football League sets 8 markets, tabs coaches |url=https://www.espn.com/xfl/story/_/id/39222541/newly-formed-united-football-league-sets-8-markets-tabs-coaches |access-date=January 15, 2024 |website=ESPN.com}}
Career statistics
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | ||||||||||||||
| rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team ! rowspan="2"| League ! colspan="3"| Games ! colspan="8"| Passing ! colspan="4"| Rushing | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| {{abbr|GP|Games played}} | {{abbr|GS|Games started}} | Record | {{abbr|Cmp|Passes completed}} | {{abbr|Att|Passes attempted}} | {{abbr|Pct|Completion percentage}} | {{abbr|Yds|Passing yards}} | {{abbr|Y/A|Yards per passing attempt}} | {{abbr|TD|Passing touchdowns}} | {{abbr|Int|Interceptions}} | {{abbr|Rtg|Passer rating}} | {{abbr|Att|Rushing attempts}} | {{abbr|Yds|Rushing yards}} | {{abbr|Avg|Yards per rushing attempt}} | {{abbr|TD|Rushing touchdowns}} |
| 2016 | SSK | CFL
| 3 || 0 || 0–0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 1 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2022 | PIT | USFL
| 6 || 4 || 1–3 || 71 || 128 || 55.5 || 729 || 5.7 || 6 || 6 || 68.1 || 17 || 60 || 3.5 || 1 |
See also
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- [http://www.jmusports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=3256&path=football: JMUsports.com Bio: Vad Lee]
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFENTXTsHKc YouTube video: Vad Lee interview with Wes Durham published on 11/15/12]
- [https://www.espn.com/college-football/player/_/id/517034/vad-lee ESPN Profile]
{{Dudley Award}}{{Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets quarterback navbox}}
{{James Madison Dukes quarterback navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lee, Vad}}
Category:American football quarterbacks
Category:Canadian football quarterbacks
Category:Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football players
Category:James Madison Dukes football players
Category:Columbus Lions players
Category:Saskatchewan Roughriders players
Category:Players of American football from North Carolina
Category:Sportspeople from Wilson, North Carolina
Category:Hillside High School (Durham, North Carolina) alumni
Category:The Spring League players
Category:Pittsburgh Maulers (2022) players