With offensive lineman Jake Sticker out with a concussion, freshman Jahaziel Lee is making use of the extra reps he’s given as camp winds down.
Lee, a 6-foot-2, 267 pound lineman from Ponchatoula, La., is surprising his coaches — especially co-offensive line coach Ron West — because before becoming a Yellow Jacket, Lee played defense.
Currently, Lee is working out at second-team right tackle.
“He’s been pretty consistent in understanding the protection, being inside-out on a guy and just feeling things,” West said. “A lot of things happen to him the first time, so he’ll miss a lot of things too but the thing that’s been interesting is getting all these quality reps.”
Before enrolling in Georgia Tech, Lee played defensive end at Ponchatoula High School until Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson changed Lee’s mind.
After a recruiting visit from Johnson on Jan. 14 and an official visit to Georgia Tech, Lee, then a hard-commit to the University of Louisiana-Lafayette, flipped his commitment to the Yellow Jackets.
“Coach Johnson was so straightforward with me,” Lee said in January. “(Johnson) told me not to worry too much about positions, but just more about giving effort. Anything could happen. I could go there and love offensive tackle.”
With increased reps in Stickler’s absence, Lee has been given an opportunity to learn the Yellow Jackets’ system before their Sept. 3 season opener.
“We practice real hard, real intense,” West said. “Pretty much when we go full gear, we’re full speed. It’s just like practicing heavy duty reps to help (Lee) get better each time.”
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