Former Ohio State linebacker Darron Lee may be undersized for his position, but he always found a way to use his athleticism to make plays for a defense that led the Buckeyes to the 2014 College Football Playoff National Championship.
And when given the opportunity to do so, the 6-foot-2, 235-pound New Albany, Ohio, native believes he can use that athleticism to make an impact in the National Football League.
“I think I give a lot more speed to those defenses,” Lee said at the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine late last month. “I know a lot of teams are looking for speed. I feel like that’s what I’ll be able to do. Tuning up my technique, I feel I can become more of a linebacker in the next couple years.
“I feel linebackers are changing in the league, to be honest with you. They’re a lot smaller. There’s not as much big guys, but the game is getting faster, and you need guys who can cover. You’re starting to see that change a lot this year in the league.”
A second-team All-American as chosen by the Associated Press in 2015, Lee had 27.5 tackles for lost yardage and 12 sacks in the last two seasons.
Lee played in 30 games for the Buckeyes and had 147 total tackles to go along with five pass break-ups, three interceptions, 10 quarterback hurries, a pair of forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and also, proved to have a nose for the end zone.
Lee twice returned interceptions for touchdowns and also, ran back a fumble to seal a win over Northern Illinois last September.
“It was a mix up of everything, zone coverage and man coverage depending on who we were playing that week and what our coaches wanted to do,” Lee said of his making plays in coverage. “It really depended upon the game plan.”
During the Combine, Lee was one of the standout performers among all linebackers, as he ran the fastest 40-yard dash (4.47 seconds), had the fifth-best vertical jump (35.5 inches) and set the standard with the longest broad jump (133.0 inches).
And Lee aims to have that athleticism mix with a dedication to his craft and show teams how much he can help their defenses on Sundays in the fall.
“Consistency and technique, for sure,” Lee said. “I think if I can show being consistent in my technique and even showing that on the field, that’ll get you out of some tough situations and help you play fundamentally sound. Being a fundamentally sound football player, linebacker will carry you a long way in your career.”
