BULLDOGS:Former walk-on impresses with effort at LSU
STARKVILLE – Tyson Lee might be the smallest man at his position in the SEC, but he’s now the big man on campus for Mississippi State.
He claimed that distinction Saturday with his strong performance in the Bulldogs’ 34-24 loss to LSU in Baton Rouge. The junior newcomer did what previous starter Wesley Carroll couldn’t – command the offense and give it some direction.
Lee threw crisp passes, made sound decisions, and wasn’t the least bit rattled by the 90,000-plus screaming LSU fans. He finished the game 17 of 26 for 175 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions, and he rushed for 18 yards on four carries.
He did more than enough to convince coach Sylvester Croom that he finally had a true No. 1 quarterback for his Bulldogs, who are 1-4 overall and 0-2 in the SEC heading into an off week.
“He just started to understand exactly what we were doing, where to go with the ball,” Croom said after the game.
It’s remarkable that Lee is in this position, given the fact that MSU didn’t even think him worthy of a scholarship offer either out of Columbus High School or after two stellar seasons at Itawamba Community College.
He finally got that scholarship in the spring after walking on.
djournal.com
10/1/08
