Highstreet
Heisman
Am I Dreaming…Pinch Me!
By: Greg Powers
Lee Tilley is no stranger to the recruiting game that is for sure. He has received countless hand written letters and offers from as far as the state of Washington to New York. He has also done a number of interviews with reporters nationwide.
“Its pretty fun I appreciate all the attention I have been getting from all the schools and all the offers. They all have their good points (schools). Some talk about their programs and how they can help me. Others talk about how they are not going to blow smoke. It’s all well and good basically its going to come down to where I want to go and who I like the most. I still wonder is all this stuff a dream? Can you pinch me?”
Lee has been playing organized football for only 3 years. He has made a fast climb from the bottom of the pile to the top.
“Everyday since my freshman year I just came and showed up…everyday. It was hard to show up my freshman year because I was getting beat up, banged up…I did not know all the rules. I didn’t know what I could or could not do. I was getting hit like I have never been hit before in my life. My sophomore year I worked hard in the weight-room. I played some basketball and got my footwork together and I was good to go.”
On film Tilley is a very aggressive offensive lineman at the point of attack. He considers himself to be a better pass blocker at this time because of the style of offense Springfield South uses on the field. Last year Tilley helped to hold the line for what was Ohio’s most proficient passing attack. What does he think when he lines up against the defenders?
“Nothing. I try to do what needs to be done. I try not to make any mental errors so the coach will be happy with me. Beat the guy across from me and just try to help my team win.”
Tilley has received around 30 offers and schools like Texas Tech, Georgia, Oklahoma Indiana, Tennessee, Michigan, Miami (FL), Auburn, Nebraska, Florida, and Ole Miss have been in contact with him since the contact period began may 1st. He also received a new offer from Arizona State.
“I got an offer from Arizona State. I have two uncles that live in Vegas and an uncle and a cousin that live in California.”
It is nice to be a football star but Lee would not be were he is today without the inspiration of three very important people in his life: His mother, his uncle, and his little sister.
Mother: “This is the person I pattern my behavior after. The morals I have. Everything. The way I look. The way I dress. I get that from my mom.”
Uncle: “He tells me to keep my head on straight and to pray hard about it. Even though you have a lot of offers you will know where to go. Stay with God and you will be alright. He is the religious part.”
Little Sister: “My little sis makes me laugh. When the days get hard on me she is there. These are the people I get most of my strength and who I am from.”
Lee’s physical abilities along with his mental composure has led to an invitation to play in Max Emfinger’s All American Bowl Game Classic.
“I am very excited about it because that is a good gauge for me to see what I need to work toward. Are they (other top competition) bigger than me? Are they faster than me? Are they more athletic? Is it my size that has helped me to get recruited or my athletic ability?”
Despite having a ton of offers two schools that Lee would consider if they were to offer are Ohio State and Notre Dame. What would it mean to Lee to be offered by these mid-western powers?
“My mom met my dad at Ohio State back in the sixties. It would mean a lot to me if they offered. That is one of the teams that will compete for the national championship every year. That would make my day. I would be very excited. Ohio State will be going for the national championship (this season)…probably.”
“I look at Notre Dame and they are going to be coming up and prospering soon. They are resilient. They have a new head coach and I am very impressed with his coaching staff.”
Tilley plans an early enrollment to the school of his choice. He plans to check out as many schools as possible this summer so an early decision can be reached. Will he have time to make any appearances on the summer camp tour?
“ I do not know right now because of how my schedule is going to look. I have to be at this place on this day and this place the next. I have got to be able to make the best decision for me whether it is Ohio State, Michigan, Indiana…someone big or small. I just want to make the best decision for me so I can grow mentally, physically, and spiritually.”
With nearly 30 offers it is hard to strategize on exactly what schools for Lee to visit.
“I am trying to get a plan for it. To find out how to eliminate some of these schools, but it just gets more difficult every time I think about it. If you go to a school and you love it and want to be there you are going to perform better and be a better person for it. It would be the best four years of your life. It’s going to be hard.”
Despite the indecision on exactly what schools to visit Tilley knows what he will be looking for in a college.
“It is about how you are going to be able to grow as a person. If you get hurt or do not perform well how is that community going to react to you.”
With the intelligence and composure that Lee Tilley possesses there is no doubt that he will be able to make the right decision.
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