Ottawa is still bringing in players from the combined USFL and XFL.
Malcolm Lee has signed with the Ottawa Redblacks, according to his reps. Malcolm Lee, a defensive lineman from the University of Kansas, is their most recent addition.
A year after graduating, Lee, a native of Omaha, Nebraska, is still seeking to launch his professional career. His father, Oudious Lee, used to lace up the cleats for my hometown Denver Gold of the USFL, so he is also no stranger to alternative football.
Lee began as a part-time starter for two years at Kansas before becoming a full-time starter. He started 24 out of 25 games during the course of the next two seasons, recording 6 tackles for a loss, 2.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, and 3 tipped passes. None of which are really impressive, but you could see his game improving from year two to year three and even year four.
Sadly, Lee had little chance of being selected by an NFL team considering his lowly stats and lack of invitation to the combine. He was nevertheless drawn to the NFL despite everything.
He would then attend the Bills’ and Giants’ rookie mini-camps in the state of New York. Minnesota also extended an invitation to him. He left without signing a contract and turned his focus to the XFL. His phone started calling again a few months later. With the Seattle Sea Dragons of the XFL on the opposing side this time.
From CFL Rookie to XFL Draft Pick
Ron Zook, Randy Mueller, Jim Haslett, and the Seattle Sea Dragons selected Lee in the XFL Rookie selection as a member of the 2023 selection class. Every team in the league should pay attention when that brain trust chooses a defensive player. Although Lee didn’t have the best collegiate output, he does have all
He measured up at 6’4 and 255 pounds, with a wing spread of 79 inches, and he performed 15 bench press repetitions. At the Kansas pro day, he had the third-highest broad jump. He also demonstrated some explosion in his game with a nice 34-inch vertical. According to KUAthletics.com, his 40-yard sprint time of 4.65, with a 1.6 10-yard split, was a little lackluster but still impressive.
Lee started getting ready for the professional ranks in June after being chosen by the XFL, with a February start date in mind. That is, until it was revealed that the XFL and USFL will combine. All of our knowledge regarding spring football was suddenly called into question.
Spreading Draft Despondency
More than 400 players were left searching for housing after eight clubs were shut down for 2024. Three distinct Kansas players from the 2023 XFL Rookie Class were among them. Sadly, Lee would not be chosen this time. His agent then got to work pushing him to the CFL, which was the best alternative.
Despite receiving interest from several IFL and AFL teams, Lee decided to bide his time and look for a new home outside. Ottawa decided to bring him in to compete in camp after seeing what he had to offer. He shouldn’t have to worry about Ottawa vanishing before 2024, it’s safe to assume.
Although Lee will have to contend with some fierce competition to make the roster, this is nothing new for him from his time in college. After witnessing his prior alternatives in the NFL and XFL fail, something tells me he isn’t afraid of the competition and will give it his best. Lee didn’t wait, which is a plus in this situation. Lee didn’t wait the season like some players do to explore other choices. He strived toward his next opportunity, wherever it may come from, with an open mind, always hungry for a professional opportunity.
Last Words
It’s easy to cheer for Lee. During our discussions, he struck me as a courteous, modest, and knowledgeable individual who recognizes that he cannot laugh at this CFL contract. Everybody wants to play in the NFL, but it says a lot about a person’s character that Lee is self-aware enough to realize that in order to stay relevant, you have to seek other opportunities. He also keeps trying to get noticed by the NFL.
Not every player has the capacity to humble themselves to the extent that they realize it might be necessary in order to go toward their sense of belonging. After the CFL season, we just witnessed Detroit sign Mathieu Betts. This transpired subsequent to his initial 2019 CFL signing. That ought to serve as motivation for CFL players all throughout the league, showing them that as long as they keep making the required improvements to their game and learn from coaching each season, there is still hope. It still remains to be seen who will coach him for his job in 2024.
