Clayton Powell-Lee, son of ex-Jacket Gary Lee, commits to Georgia Tech

“I feel real good, just soaking in all the love,” Powell-Lee said. “I’ve already been receiving texts from players at Georgia Tech. Just soaking in all the love and can’t wait to get up there.”

Gary Lee played for coach Bill Curry from 1983-86 before playing two NFL seasons. He is best remembered by Jackets fans for his kickoff return for a touchdown that helped Tech defeat Georgia in 1985 on a foggy night at Grant Field.

“For him to go to my alma mater – it’s every guy’s dream to have their son get an opportunity to play great Division I football and get a great education at the same time,” Lee said. “It doesn’t get any better than that.”

Powell-Lee had been recruited by Tech since about May, he said. He came with teammates for an unofficial visit June 2 and then returned for a private workout with safeties coach Nathan Burton a week later. A scholarship offer was not immediately forthcoming. Powell-Lee said he was told by defensive-line coach Larry Knight that the recruiting focus was on linemen and that an offer could take time.

“So I just waited it out and waited it out, and fortunately I heard back,” Powell-Lee said.

He received his offer from Tech about a week ago. He said he decided to commit the day after he received the offer, having heard more from Knight and Burton about how they envisioned him fitting into the defense. Powell-Lee, listed at 6-foot-2 and 170 pounds, is unrated (247Sports Composite) although Rivals rates him as a three-star prospect.

“He’s really developed a ton over the last four years,” Westlake coach Bobby May said. “He just keeps getting better and better, and he keeps growing. I think he’s going to be a really good player for them.”

The pitch offered by Burton and Knight only layered on top of Powell-Lee’s natural loyalty to Tech. While his father wore No. 33 for the Jackets, Powell-Lee, who is hoping to enroll in January, isn’t necessarily angling to request it.

“I’m not necessarily trying to follow his footsteps,” he said. “I’m trying to do my own thing, follow my own path.”

When that answer was shared with his father, Lee was delighted, saying that he was there to support his son, but that it was up to him to create his own way.

“He did it on his own,” Lee said. “That’s one of the things I emphasized with him. I said, ‘I had nothing to do with this. I didn’t make any phone calls or say this is the way it should go. Your ability did it. Your grades gave you the opportunity to do it.’”

While he had made his decision last week, Powell-Lee chose to wait to announce it for a poignant reason. July 20 is the anniversary of the death of his grandmother. Romae Turner Powell, who died in 1990, was the first Black state-court judge in Georgia. A juvenile justice center in Atlanta is named in her honor.

“Having my mom tell me stories gives me memories of her,” Powell-Lee said. “It makes me feel like she’s been with me my entire life.”

Lee said he made a point to avoid influencing his son to play football when he was a child. Still, when it came time to pick flag or tackle football when he was five or six, he said, ‘Well, Daddy, I want to wrap up,’” Lee said.

Lee, a consultant living in Warner Robins, has stayed close to his former team. He is a season-ticket holder and has often brought Clayton to games. In his bedroom, in fact, Powell-Lee has photos of himself with Jackets greats such as Lucius Sanford, Robert Lavette, Eddie Lee Ivery and Eddie McAshan.

Powell-Lee said his dad has taken him to about 20 Jackets games and remembers going into the locker room after a game when he was six or seven.

“I already knew what Tech had in store as far as relationships and bonding,” he said.

In a year’s time, the games will carry a far different meaning for both Lee and his son.

“He brought tears to my eyes. He called me, he said, ‘Daddy, I’m doing it. I’m doing it,’” Lee said. “And he’s excited about it. And let me tell you: They got a hell of a ballplayer.”