Lee To Receive National Football Foundation Scholarship

PROVO -- BYU safety Jared Lee, a native of Rexburg, Idaho, has been selected as one of six NCAA Division-IA players to receive the prestigious National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Postgraduate Scholarship. Lee will be presented with an $18,000 scholarship at the 43rd annual National Football Foundation Awards Dinner at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City on Dec. 12, 2000.

"With 182 outstanding candidates competing for this year's award, the selection of only six Division-IA scholar-athletes was a difficult challenge for the Awards Committee," said Robert E. Mulcahy III, chairman of the Awards Committee. "After a thorough review and discussion, the committee chose what it feels is a sensational group that represents the ideals of the Foundation with great distinction."

Other scholarship recipients include Scott Becker (Air Force), Drew Brees (Purdue), Kyle Vanden Bosch (Nebraska), Chris Weinke (Florida State) and Josh Whitman (Illinois).

"Jared is an outstanding, motivated individual," BYU head coach LaVell Edwards said. "Not only is he tremendous football player, a leader and example, he is the epitome of a student-athlete. I can't think of a person more deserving of this honor. There is no doubt he has earned it."

Lee, a 6-foot-0, 210-pound defensive standout maintains a 3.96 grade-point average as a history major, while also working on pre-med qualifications. Lee plans to enter dental school following graduation. He has also been nominated for the prestigious Verizon Academic All-America Team (formerly GTE Academic All-America Team). Earlier this season Lee was named the National Circuit City Scholar-Athlete of the Week in connection with the ESPN Thursday Night broadcast against Mississippi State on Sept. 14. In connection with the Pigskin Classic, Lee also received a $5,000 post-graduate scholarship from the National Asociation of Collegiate Directors of Athletics.

After leading BYU with 96 tackles as a junior, Lee currently ranks second on the BYU roster with 71 tackles, including 41 unassisted and 30 assisted takedowns. Lee has recorded three tackles for a loss, fine pass breakups and forced two fumbles on the season.

Since 1959, when the first class was selected, 586 scholar-athletes have been awarded the honor based on superior academic performance, outstanding football ability, strong leadership and citizenship.

"For 42 years, these prestigious awards have placed the spotlight on only a chosen few who have excelled above all in the area of scholarship, citizenship and athletic performance," National Football Foundation Chairman Jon F. Hanson said. "We are delighted to have this opportunity to honor these six outstanding individuals for all of their achievements."

As a National Football Foundation Postgraduate Scholarship award winner, Lee will be considered for the Vincent dePaul Draddy Trophy, often referred to as the "Academic Heisman". In addition to the $18,000 scholarship, the winner of the Draddy Trophy will receive a $25,000 postgraduate scholarship. Past Draddy Trophy winners include Peyton (Tennessee) and Danny Wuerffel (Flordia).

The fifth youngest of seven children, Lee plans to follow in the footsteps of his older brother who will finish dental school at Creighton University this year. Lee also has two older brothers who are orthopedic surgeons and another older brother who is finishing his second year of medical school. Lee is the son of Robert and Gwen Lee of Rexburg. Lee's father was re-elected on Tuesday to a fourth term in the Idaho State Senate.