versatile donald lee is third transfer cornerback to join uab this spring

Photo by Ken Shepherd

By Steve Irvine

BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA - May 13, 2024

News of Donald Lee’s UAB commitment came on his official visit to the campus late last week. Truth is, though, the former Grambling State cornerback didn’t wait to until he arrived in Birmingham to let UAB secondary coach C.J. Cox know his decision.

“Little did everybody know, I was committed two days before my visit,” Lee said. “Me and Coach Cox were on the phone like every day, I just had to break it to him.”

Lee said UAB’s recruiting style played a key role in his recruitment.

“Talking to them guys in the recruiting process, I loved them right away,” Lee said, singling out Cox, cornerback coach Kenneth Gilstrap and head coach Trent Dilfer. “That’s what made me make my decision so quick. I fell in love with the coaching staff. The coaches, they were really explaining to me how they wanted to use me, how they wanted to utilize me. Some of the other coaches, they weren’t really telling me all that. I didn’t feel wanted for real. UAB, I felt wanted.”

UAB is getting another quality addition to a cornerback position that needed depth even before returning starters Mac McWilliams and Colby Dempsey entered the transfer portal on April 30. The 6-foot-3, 180-pound Lee, who has two seasons of eligibility remaining, said Blazers’ need for cornerbacks was a factor in his decision. He is the third spring transfer cornerback for UAB, joining Troy Jakubec (Youngstown State) and Tariq Watson (Minnesota).

“Coming in right away, playing and making an impact, that just really means a lot to me,” Lee said. “Most of the other schools weren’t telling me that. When I got settled in and (saw) the corners were leaving and spots were open, that really helped me make my decision, too.”

Lee, who is from Houston, said he received 15 offers as a senior at Klein Collins High. The offers included Washington State, UTSA, Houston, Tulane and SMU. He originally committed to Tulane but the commitment came late in the process and there wasn’t a spot for him.

Lee ended up at Grambling State, where he played in four games as a true freshman in 2021 and a combined 19 games over the next two seasons. His career numbers included 36 tackles, three interceptions and 10 pass breakups.

“It was tough,” Lee said of his decision to leave Grambling. “I’ve been there since 2021. That was my first school out of high school. I fell in love with Grambling. During my time at Grambling, I went through three head coaching changes. I was tired of the rebuilding and just wanted to find somewhere I could call home.”

He said he found that when he visited UAB.

”I came from SWAC, I felt like I made it when I saw the facilities,” Lee said. “The indoor facility, hot tub, cold tub. I came from a conference where I’m not used to that at all. It’s like, I was taking everything in and enjoying my blessings.”

Now, it’s time to get to work and compete for immediate playing time.

“I think I bring a lot of versatility,” said the speedy Lee, who was a Texas state 6A runner up in the triple jump as a high school senior. “I can play inside nickel, I can play corner, that’s what Coach Cox and Coach Dilfer were telling me. I’m really versatile, so I feel like you can put me anywhere and I can thrive in it.”