Vershon Lee Talks Transitioning To Center, Into Leadership Role
Over the past three seasons, Vershon Lee has appeared in 28 total games, starting seventeen of them. In most of those starts, Vershon played alongside guys like Eric Douglas, Jovaughn Gwyn and Dylan Wonnum, who started a combined 124 career games over their college careers. Now, with each of those three having moved on from the program, plus the injury to Jaylen Nichols back in the Spring game, Lee suddenly finds himself as the lone veteran of the group in terms of experience in the program, which he told me at media day this past Thursday has changed how he goes about his business daily.
"It's changed the way I attack every day," Vershon explained. "I have younger guys looking up to me or seeing how I react to certain situations, and I have to be more vocal and talk to my guys, make sure they understand what's right and what's wrong, and show them the ins and outs."
Lee has fully embraced his new role on the offensive line this offseason and has passed along one constant message to all of the newcomers over the past few months: consistency.
"When you build a reputation around the building, it follows you everywhere. So, if you can continue with consistency, you'll grow, and you can become a greater [example], and become closer with your teammates."
During the time Vershon spent with Eric Douglas over the past couple of years, the Virginia native picked his older teammate's brain, which has helped him transition to the center position. At the same time, realizing that he's now responsible for ensuring all of his teammates on the line know their assignments has been an adjustment for the fourth-year junior.
"I feel like understanding the offense has more seamless because last year I was with Eric Douglas, [and] he already knew everything. So I would be under his wing everyday, talking to him everyday so I would understand the ins and outs of offenses and [he'd] help me understand playbooks, but the thing that's [been] different is communicating the calls, seeing the defense in my teammates' eyes and getting them in the right position so they can execute and be in the best spot."
If the Gamecocks' o-line is going to outperform the expectations that's been set on them for 2023, Vershon Lee will have to be one of the players leading the charge.
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