Troy’s Lee set to be leader

By Drew Champlin

Published: June 25, 2008

TROY — As a sophomore last year, Troy linebacker Boris Lee emerged as one of the Trojans’ best defensive players.

Now, with the loss of several defensive leaders off last year’s squad, he’s being asked to lead.

Lee, a first-team all-conference selection last year, took time earlier this month for an interview. He’ll be entering his third season as a starter this fall.

Tell me about how you’re being counted on to be a defensive leader.

The coaches pulled me aside and told me it’s time to be a leader. They told me it’s time for everyone to look up to you as being a leader. You’ve already been successful on the field.
Especially at linebacker, you have to make all the calls, you’ve got to be a leader.

What should we all look for from you and fellow starter Bear Woods?

Be on the lookout for the B and B duo. The Killer B’s.

What was a bigger disappointment last year, not winning the Sun Belt outright or not going to a bowl?

Both of them were disappointments. I can’t really say, both were disappointments. The FAU loss was a feeling I don’t want to have again.

I didn’t watch any TV that day after, I just waited for a phone call to tell me we were going to a bowl. It never came.

It just shows that in this coming up season, we’ve got to go out, take a bigger step forward and get respect from everybody.

Last year, we talked about how coach (Larry Blakeney) called you and got a voice mail with music and the recording, ‘This is the Living Legend, leave a message.’ What does your recording say now?

It’s got the generic automated voicemail. I still couldn’t believe it when Coach Blakeney called me that day and it said you have reached the voice mail of the Living Legend.

Do you tell younger teammates to be careful with what their voicemail says?

It’s getting ridiculous. There’s guys with all kinds of rings.

Guys at my high school have those rings. When I talk to them, I make sure that they know to change it. If they don’t change it now, they’re going to wish they had later.

You’re bigger now, right?

I’ve gained about 25 pounds. I weigh 228. It’s a little relaxation, but a lot of working hard and getting better.

What did you weigh last year?

Right at 200, 202, something like that. I had tonsil surgery and Chuck (Ash) and coach (Richard) Shaughnessy held me out from some stuff, so the weight got on me.

228 of muscle, right?

Oh yeah. I look good.

Last year was good for you, do you want to be Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year this year?

I’ve always been taught that you have to set your goals high. Being all-conference first team, that was special to me. I was 200 pounds barely, and I was a first-team linebacker, so I would love to be Defensive Player of the Year. They’ve got me on some (preseason) watch list (Lombardi Award), so I’m aiming to make my name known. My name’s up there on the list, I want it to stay there.

I’ve got first team All-Sun Belt, but I want to make it bigger than that.

How is it that you rack up so many interceptions and fumble recoveries?

Coaches always say that you’ve got a nose for the ball. I’ve never really believed that. I see the ball, and I go get it.

Sometimes I put myself out of position because I’m going after the ball too aggressively, but I’m always trying to go get the ball.