Daniel Lee, For the Love of the Game

Daniel Lee, For the Love of the Game

by: Lead Journalist - Jasmine Ng

“I have goals to become a Wr in the National Football League or to play any role in the NFL. I also have goals to travel the world to play this game that I love if I fall short of becoming a player in the NFL. – Daniel Lee”

Everyone has a starting point in having a passion for the game.  All-around athlete Daniel Lee can put in some work and play Wide Receiver and Defensive Back. He can also play as a Return Kicker and Catch Punts.  Or if needed anywhere else such as on special teams. Daniel Lee originally from Gunnison which is a small town in Bolivar County Mississippi. He was raised in a house with just women. His sisters, nieces, and grandmother who helped raise him. He didn’t really have a father figure to look up to. His father has never watched him play football. Lee would be that kid who would get in trouble and always had a bad attitude. So he put his energy in sports. He invested his energy in football and baseball.

For Daniel Lee, he began his journey in football at West Bolivar High School in Rosedale Mississippi. In his senior year they won the state championship against Taylorsville Tatars. That year they were undefeated with a 15-0 streak. 

When Lee graduated from West Bolivar High School, he attended Coahoma Community College in Clarksdale Mississippi due to his poor grades. At Coahoma Community College, that is where Daniel Lee started off as the Slot WR and long snapper. He attended Coahoma Community College for two years and transferred out to Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina in 2010. His junior year over at Shaw University, Lee was a role player for the team. He played a lot in the slot position, returned kicks and caught punts for his first time in his career. He had the opportunity to be starter as a long snapper position. In his junior year, they won the CIAA.

After his senior year in football at Shaw University in 2012, Daniel Lee thought his football career was done because he had his heart set on playing ball further. But he had no idea where he was going to play next. So he decided to stay focused on training and working hard every day to get to the next level.  He was told about the open tryouts for the Columbus Lions at the Proehlific Park in Greensboro, North Carolina.  Daniel Lee went to the open tryouts not knowing what will come next. He went in with an open mind and ready to show what he was made of. Lee was signed the same day and was invited to camp by the Columbus Lions. He left that semester from Shaw University to go for his passion of the sport.  With the Columbus Lions, he started off on practice roster and worked his way up to the rotation of WR/DB. In his last six games with the Columbus Lions he was put as a starter as a DB but he hasn’t played DB since high school.

In the 2013 season Daniel Lee was asked to come back with the Columbus Lions. But he decided to sign with the Richmond Raiders for the 2014 season. He had an outstanding camp and but was released a day before the first game. He soon was signed with the Cape Fear Heroes and finished his 2014 season with them. Which he had an exceptional year and gave him the best motivation to continue his passion for the game.

 Daniel Lee’s style of playing is the Wes Welker type. He isn’t the fastest but he is quick as lightening. He is a major standout by his route running and sure hands. He would be able in getting separation from the defender. Lee’s training regime is a five days a week and rest his body on a Saturday and Sunday. Those are the days he ices, stretches and stem. In every workout he makes sure he does a 30 minute warm-up. The last time he ran his 40 yard dash was with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and his time was a 4.54. Lee can bench press a 275 11xs. His best lifts were when he pressed a 315 3xs. In Lee’s opinion he would want to work on improving his speed. He always had great hands and could run to get routes.  He is always able to get in and out of his routes.  In his opinion the only reason why he hasn’t gotten a shot to the next level is because of his speed. He is a great competitor and always worked hard at everything he does. Currently Daniel Lee is training hard to lower his 40 time by doing explosive workouts.

As far back as Daniel Lee can remember he started playing football since the sixth grade. He would never forget the person who had pulled him towards the right direction in life when he was going the wrong direction. Malcolm Brown is the person who changed his life forever. He was the one who made a visit to his home and asked his mom if he could play for his team.  It is as if Lee was scouted by Brown because he saw that raw talent in him and believed that he would one day make it to the next level. 

Since then, he had the opportunity to play with the Columbus Lions of the PIFL and the Cape Fear

Heroes of the AIFL. With the Columbus Lions he played under Jason Gibson scoring three touchdowns a game which helped him out a lot. After his rookie season with the Columbus Lions he went to sign with the Richmond Raiders in the PIFL. After being released from the Richmond Raiders, he thought his career was over.  The thoughts and feelings after he was released.

“I felt as if my athleticism, hard work and dedication weren’t good enough.”  – Daniel Lee

Then later he was picked up by the Cape Fear Heroes of the AIFL. There he played each game as if his life was depended on it. Being picked up by the Cape Fear Heroes it gave him life again. 

“Looking back at my past keeps me motivated. Coming from where the young barely makes it out. I wanted something different. It was struggle for me growing up with no father. I started off heading in the wrong direction but I thank GOD and my loving mother.  Watching my cousin pass from caner motivates me as well. – Daniel Lee”

His most influential players in his life are his mom and his first cousin who had passed away with colon cancer at the age of 21. The hardest times when he wanted to quit the game and on himself, his mom was influenced him to keep playing and keep God first and that everything will get better. Seeing her fight through the struggle had motivated him even more to work towards his dream. 

He would always remember what his mom would say “A bad attitude will get you nowhere in life.”

He had the attitude of nothing was good happening in his life before so he decided to take a big change. Everyone doubted him and said he would never finish high school and not go to college. He made it and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Recreation. He always had to work ten times harder than everyone else. Watching his cousin fight cancer was a first hurdle in life of an eye opener. His cousin never gave up on himself and had fought until the end before he had passed away on July 9^th, 2014. With his cousin he would speak with him every day before his 2014 season with the Cape Fear Heroes. He would motivate him and tell him he would score three or more touchdowns per game. Number three was his cousin’s favourite number and his basketball number. In honour of his cousin in Lee’s rookie year with the Columbus Lions and the Cape Fear Heroes he would sport number three.

“To me, that’s my lucky number.  His favorite saying was “I won’t complain”. He accepted Christ at a early age. Before he took sick he was a Star Point Guard at his Jr College and he worked hard so now that he’s gone  I feel that I have to work twice as hard for us both because I know if he could he would do the same.”

His cousin and his mom is the reason he play this game with such great passion. He has great support from my hometown Gunnison, Ms. West Bolivar Family, family and close friends and those who he

has met along the way. His former high school teammates are very supportive when it comes down to playing football.  His mom, close friends and Family supports my journey the most.

Daniel Lee’s most memorable highlight was in senior year at Shaw University when it took him 78 yard middle screen for a touchdown. He really feels that he can play this game on a higher level because of the tools that were given to him to compete with the top athletes. Most of all he has the heart. For Daniel Lee what is next, his plans are to start camp with the Erie Explosion who are now a member of the PIFL.

“I’m excited to get the opportunity to play for a good organization like Erie Explosion. I’ve heard such good things about that organization and the head coach “Shawn Liotta” Off the field I plan to go back to school to get my Master’s degree in sports management.”

_______________SHOUTOUT______________

 I would like to give a Shout out to My MOM, Friends and Family, my hometown Gunnison MS, my uncle Stevie Johnson and my Aunt Ramona Johnson and others I’ve met along the way.

 

Daniel Lee Resume
Weight/Height: 188Ibs, 5'11

Position:  
WR/DB/KR/PR

Career Highlights:
West Bolivar High School
Coahoma Community College
Shaw University
Columbus Lions (PIFL)
Cape Fear Heroes (AIFL)

Testing:40 yard dash: 4.54
bench press: 275 11xs
squats: 400

Highlight film. Columbus lions/Cape Fear Heroes:
Daniel Lee (ATH) AIF/PIFL 2013/14:  http://youtu.be/WOMqM0btlx4