Jamall Lee Archives | BC Lions Football

Harris gives Lions options heading into 2012 and beyond.

December 29, 2011 By Brian Wawryshyn

The new contract extension for non-import running back Andrew Harris is great news for fans of the Lions and of course the team itself. Considering the fact that the Lions may not have ended up with Harris had he made the grades to get into University, his emergence has been the result of some good fortune by the reigning Grey Cup champions.

Having attended all the training camps that Harris has been a part of, I’ve often left with the belief he was the most talented running back in the Lions system. However, age and experience were against him when it came time to cracking the lineup. Since Harris was in junior and not the CIS, the Lions had the luxury of using a territorial exemption on Harris which kept him from being exposed to other teams. That clause to allow Harris to practice with the team and groom him into the player he’s become today.

Not that he needed a lot of grooming; he just needed the chance and the experience at the pro level. As pointed out in this piece by Ed Willes of The Province, his junior numbers from his days with Vancouver Island Raiders in the CJFL are jaw dropping. The most impressive of all, a 14.5 yards per carry average in his final season in 2009.

Heading into last season the club had designs on an all-Canadian backfield with Jerome Messam and Jamall Lee, who was coming off a major knee injury, in the picture. After making the team in 2010 and seeing primarily special teams work, Harris himself was recovering from a torn pectoral muscle as training camp began. But during camp he showed signs that he had healed well and was likely ahead of schedule. Another training camp incident for Messam saw him dealt to the Eskimos, while Lee’s recovery hampered his ability to have an impact early forcing the Lions to abandon the non-import idea.

When the Lions struggled out of the gate, Harris eventually replaced veteran Jamal Robertson. He got his chance to shine and never looked back and his emergence as the starter coincided with the turnaround of the club. Where Harris’ age and experience were once a negative factor when it came to getting him into the lineup, those factors have become huge positives for the Lions moving forward. He’ll be 25 years of age at the start of camp and hasn’t even hit his prime yet. The experience he gained last year may have set the table for him to have a dominant season in 2012.

A healthy Harris and Lee combined with the option of using Rolly Lumbala more, means the Lions could take another look at the non-import backfield scenario entering 2012. They’ll have to sign Jamall Lee for that chance though, as he’s eligible for free agency and may get some offers with his yet to be realized potential, strong special teams work and his birth certificate.

In the meantime, the Lions at least have Harris in their back pocket and the best thing is he’s just getting started.

Jamall Lee Joins The Lions

October 14, 2009 By Brian Wawryshyn

We recently spoke with CIS football announcer and CKNW 980 Sports Director Jim Mullin about the BC Lions recent signing of first round draft pick and local boy Jamall Lee. Lee signed a 2 year deal with the club on Monday after failing to land a contract offer from an NFL club.

BCLD: Jim, thanks for taking the time to give us a little background on Jamall Lee. You have a good understanding of Lee’s college career as an announcer and CIS football enthusiast. Can you tell our readers what kind of player Lee is, and what his strengths and weaknesses might be?

Jim Mullin: Lee was an outstanding running back out of Terry Fox Secondary. Instead of following in his father’s footsteps and going to the Simon Fraser program, which was a basket case of an operation, he chose to go to Bishop’s University in Lennoxville, Quebec.

In four years he led the QUFL and CIS in rushing twice. He holds the Quebec Conference career mark for rushing yards with 4,296 which puts him in select company nationally. He’s third on the all-time list, ahead of Jesse Lumsden and behind Eric LaPointe. He was the QUFL’s Most Outstanding Player in 2007, in a year where the Laval Rouge et Or were dominant in every aspect of the game.

The NFL took notice when he set new records at the CFL evaluation camp in the spring. He ran a 40 yard dash in 4.39, which was quicker than anyone had ran at this year’s NFL combine. He also has a vertical jump of 44 inches (110 cm).

Judging by his running style, he may have the same handicap as Lumsden in that he hits the gaps too upright, leaving him prone to injury. He’s likely already made adjustments by his trial by fire with the Carolina Panthers.

BCLD: Wally Buono indicated that the club would like to try and turn Lee into a receiver, but that won’t be an option for this season. Does Lee have the ability in your mind to thrive at that position in the CFL?

Jim Mullin: His speed would give him a shot to be an effective inside receiver who could attack the seams, and he has the physical attributes to handle the contact.

However, after having talked to Wally Buono on a regular basis, he’s indicated to me that his thoughts have changed on Lee. He sees him as a running back/kickoff returner at this point. When you see what Calvin McCarty has added to the Eskimos lineup as a back with good hands – when he’s healthy – who could blame the Lions for changing their mind?

BCLD: Obviously Lee will take another shot at the NFL at some point, but he’s a Lion until the end of next season. If he was converted to a receiver, would that help or hinder his NFL aspirations, where he was trying out at running back this year?

Jim Mullin: His focus is here. He’s happy to be playing in his hometown even if practice money in the NFL is worth more than a CFL rookie deal. The two-plus-an option deal gives him a window to explore the NFL at the end of the 2010 season.

I think that setting him up solely as a receiver would have a negative impact on his NFL possibilities to be a starter on offense. But it certainly wouldn’t hinder his chance of becoming a specialist as a kickoff or punt returner. Stefan Logan showed us how that worked.

BCLD: Lee worked out for several NFL teams but wasn’t offered a contract, despite being a late cut of the Carolina Panthers. What will Lee need to do to get more attention next time he tries, if he chooses to?

Jim Mullin: Absorb technique and adapt to the speed of the professional game here, which I am confident he will do. His agent Zeke Sandhu really hustled for him between the Carolina cut and the Lions signing. He knocked on a lot of NFL doors. Lee’s testing numbers were his calling card. Pittsburgh and Seattle liked what they saw, but were they really going to add someone at this stage of the year?

If he registers good numbers on specials, he will get another look.

BCLD: Thanks again Jim, is there anything else you can let our readers know about Jamall Lee?

Jim Mullin: His dad, Orville – the last Canadian to rush for 1,000 yards – is proud of his son.

Audio:

Jim Mullin speaks with Jamall Lee: Jamall Lee Interview – CKNW 980

Lee ready to join Leos?

October 1, 2009 By Brian Wawryshyn

Province writer Lowell Ullrich is reporting that Lions first round draft pick Jamall Lee may be ready to revisit signing with the club, after exhausting his NFL options:

A club source said Wednesday the agent for the 22-year-old running back, Zeke Sandhu, called the CFL team late Tuesday seeking to re-open contract talks which fizzled after Lee was cut early last month by the Carolina Panthers.

The Lions no doubt would have liked to have gotten their hands on Lee a little earlier, but the idea now would be for him to join the team for the rest of the season and get that experience under his belt before next year’s training camp. A season ending inury to non import fullback Alexis Bwenge has created the perfect spot for lee on the roster.

Buono has high praise for Lee’s abilities in the article, stating:

“He could be the next Russ Jackson,” said Buono, referring to the Canadian-born player who was switched from defensive back to quarterback and led the Ottawa Rough Riders to three Grey Cup victories in the 1960s “We’d get him ready,” Buono said of Lee. “He gives you options and we would like to examine all of them.”

Stay tuned…