February 5, 2003

Culver Academy's Joe Lee selects Naval Academy

CULVER -- Culver Academy running back Joe Lee will sign a national letter of intent today to play for the United States Naval Academy.

"I met most of the players and coaches," said Lee, who visited the Academy in January. "They're awesome people. I just felt I fit in with that community and, specifically, those guys."

The Culver native is especially looking forward to visits to Notre Dame Stadium during his college career. "That's going to be exciting," he said. "I'm really looking forward to it, for sure."

Running behind an inexperienced line that saw nine different starters through the season, Lee still gained 1,482 yards his senior year. The 5-foot-9, 178-pound senior averaged 7.1 yards per carry while scoring 12 touchdowns. He averaged 6.9 yards per carry for 2,859 yards and 25 touchdowns during his three seasons in the Eagles' backfield.

He caught 17 passes for 164 yards (a 9.6-yard average) and two touchdowns over his career. He caught 11 passes for 99 yards and one touchdown this past season. Lee also returned punts and kickoffs, averaging 19.1 yards per kickoff return as a senior.

As an outside linebacker, Lee was the Eagles' second-leading tackler with 87 this season. He finished with a career total of 207, averaging nearly seven tackles per game.

"Joe has always strived to play with passion for the coaches, fans, and his teammates,'' Culver head football coach Andy Dorrel said. "Joe's competitiveness enabled him to emerge as a natural leader and, even as an underclassman, he commanded the respect of teammates.''

Lee was named to the Indiana Football Coaches Association Academic All-State Team and was selected to the Indiana Region II All-Star Team.