USC linebacker Shane Lee has not wasted any time taking on a leadership role since transferring in from Alabama. Lee wants to build a new culture for the Trojans, and Lincoln Riley says that is exactly what he is doing.
Following a spring practice, Riley was asked about what Lee has meant to the team in his short time on campus. While some players take a while to step into leadership roles, Lee has been an example for the Trojans since he joined the program.
“He’s been critically important,” Riley said. “Bought in from Day 1. One of his reasonings, and we had a few guys like this, when we talked in his recruitment for wanting to come here was being a part of this culture change and being a part of this flip. That was important for him, not just himself as a player or as a student. It was well beyond that. He’s been very aggressive about his leadership. He didn’t wait long to kind of get to know everybody.
“Some guys wait til they get comfortable, and then you see the leadership come out of them. He’s been pretty aggressive from the jump, and we needed him to be, along with others. His voice on our football team right now, it’s a strong voice. He’s one of a few guys we brought in here that came out of successful winning programs. Has an idea of what it looks like. His aggressiveness and passion as a leader and consistency has been very very positive for us. He’s got a critical role for us right now.”
