Former Wildcat running back Jabo Lee appears to be heading to Temple.
Lee had originally signed on to play for the University of Tennessee, but recently announced that he would not be joining the Vols. While there was much speculation about the decision, which may have been based on failure to meet a standardized test score, Lee still meets NCAA qualifications and was quickly approached by Temple.
Lee visited the school last week and on Tuesday tweeted a picture of Temple’s No. 2 jersey, which is the number he wore when he played for the Wildcats. On Friday, he added, “Temple might be my place.”
Tennessee has already released Lee from his letter of intent, which means that he can be put on scholarship at Temple.
Wildcat Head Coach Jackie Hayes told the Knoxville News Sentinel that Lee would be going to Temple, and though he credited Tennessee with helping Lee get a shot at Temple, he also blasted them for mishandling the situation.
“I don’t think this is a good way of doing business,” he told the Sentinel. “They told him the whole time all he had to do is make the test score.”
“Last Wednesday (July 24), they called him and said he can’t get through admissions,” he said, but noted that Lee graduated in December and passed their standardized test in June. “They’ve had his transcript since January. Looks like they’d know whether he could get through admissions.”
Hayes said that in May, Lee was diagnosed with a torn anterior cruciate ligament and would need surgery, which may have also influenced UT’s decision.
“I think they just left him out to dry,” he said.
Hayes added that although the Vols have already offered quarterback Avery McCall, he isn’t sure any of the Wildcats would be a good fit at UT, saying “there wouldn’t be no use” for the UT recruiters to return to Dillon.