Aug 18, 2013
By Jon Cooper
Sting Daily
Vad Lee showed he could do a lot under center as a redshirt freshman in 2012.
Splitting time with redshirt senior Tevin Washington, Lee proved an explosive presence running Paul Johnson’s spread option offense. He averaged 5.67 yards per rush, which ranks third among active ACC players, and his 544 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns put him in the top 10 in school history in those categories by a quarterback for a season and already put him ninth in rushing touchdowns and 11th in rushing yards on the school CAREER charts.
Through the air, he showed off a big arm, completing 48.2 percent of his throws (27-for-56 with three interceptions) for 596 yards, while throwing at 150.47 efficiency — higher than Washington.
Vad also showed he was capable of making big plays, as he had eight running plays over 20 yards, including scoring runs of 41 and 24 yards, and 10 more big plays via the pass, with seven of them going at least 35 yards, including an 82-yard scoring aerial.
Lee, who has shown he can be a leader among the student-body as a member of Georgia Tech’s Student-Athlete Advisory Board, is eager to show what he can do in a full season leading the 2013 Yellow Jackets.
He recently talked with Sting Daily recently about what his team has shown through two scrimmages, his relationship with his main competition, freshman Justin Thomas, and about the team’s cracking ESPN’s Top 10 Plays.
Lee’s Significant Facts:
Games Played: 14
Games Started: 6
First Game: 9/8/12 vs. Presbyterian
First Touchdown: 9/8/12 vs. Presbyterian – 1-yard run at 7:43 of third quarter
First Completed Pass 9/8/12 vs. Presbyterian – 82-yard pass to Jeff Greene at 3:15 of fourth quarter
First Touchdown Pass 9/8/12 vs. Presbyterian – 82-yard pass to Jeff Greene at 3:15 of fourth quarter
First 100-yard Rushing Game 9/8/12 vs. Presbyterian – 101 yards on 8 carries
First 100-yard Passing Game 11/10/12 at North Carolina – 169 yards (6-for-10, 1 INT.)
First 100-yard Rushing and Passing Game 11/10/12 at North Carolina – 169 yards passing, 112 yards rushing (23 carries, 2 TDs)
FIRST DOWN: How would you assess the team through its first two scrimmages?
Vad Lee: It’s fun just to be out there, just leading the guys and of course, leading the touchdowns, that was fun. The offense is in pretty good shape just to be able to go and compete and be prepared. We have a lot of room to improve as far as just doing our basic stuff. The O-line did pretty good for what we have. They did a great job. It was good protection for the most part and we were moving the ball, we were able to go the distance. I’m looking forward to everyone being healthy.
SECOND DOWN: How have you taken to new Quarterbacks Coach Bryan Cook?
LEE: I’m still getting to know him and am just trying to gel with him more. It took me and [former QBs] Coach Bohanon a while though, too. Of course, I was redshirting. I wasn’t active with all that stuff, but me and Coach Bohanon were doing some great stuff toward the time he left. Coach Cook, we’re getting along well. I’m just looking forward to us getting a better and better relationship.
THIRD DOWN: How would you describe your relationship with freshman Justin Thomas?
LEE: Right now we’re just competing. There’s really no lack of togetherness. It’s not bitter. It’s a friendly rivalry. He’s a great football player. Right now both of us are trying to focus in on what Coach Cook is bringing to the offense and trying to get a better relationship with him. We’re just trying to execute the offense and get more reps and play hard.
FOURTH DOWN: How cool was it to see DeAndre Smelter’s sliding catch from Georgia Tech’s first scrimmage make ESPN’s Top 10 Plays?
LEE: Oh yeah. Tim Byerly. That was a great pass. I couldn’t have done it better. (laughs) That was cool, especially coming from a scrimmage. That might go as extra motivation in practice and scrimmages and stuff. Maybe we can get somebody else on there.
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