Down in the trenches. Three-point stance. Eyes on the ball. Don’t jump offsides. Breathing heavily after a long, hard-fought game. This is what you’ve wanted: to play football. You never thought you’d play college football, but your high school coach called around, and so you went to College of the Redwoods in Eureka, Calif. Now you’re here. SNAP. You bull rush through the center and guard easily, and before the quarterback realizes it, his face is firmly planted in the ground.

Former College of the Redwoods player James Lee now plays for the Green Bay Packers.

James Lee graduated from McKay High School in Salem, Ore., in 1998, and was a good football player. He never thought about playing at the next level. But his high school coach called a number of colleges, selling James to anyone who would listen. The College of the Redwoods and College of the Siskiyous were interested in the young man. CR was the lucky recipient. He went to CR in the fall of 1998 and promptly dominated junior college football, earning first team all-conference at the defensive tackle position.

His second season at CR was mired in academic trouble, as schoolwork and an insufficient number of units forced Lee to sit on the sidelines for the 1999 season. Lee, though, showed his greatest trait: patience.

“Patience is a virtue, man, and I have a lot of it,” said Lee.

Lee has always had patience, and he always carries it with him, literally. On his right arm is a tattoo of Chinese lettering, which roughly translates to “Patience is a Virtue.”

Lee also met his future wife at CR. He and Leah Wrask married on March 27, 2004. Leah has been a big force in Lee’s life.

“She’s pushed me, she’s cared for me, she’s been there for me. She’s wonderful,” Lee said.

	Lee (64) tormented opponents during his days at College of the Redwoods.

In 2000, his third year at CR, he had a breakout season. He earned a second-team all-American (J.C. Grid-Wire) selection, and was named conference MVP, first-team all-league (Mid-Empire) and first-team junior college all-state. He played in 10 of 11 games, recording 66 tackles (16 for losses), seven sacks, two fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles and two blocked kicks. Thanks to his outstanding career at CR, Lee received a scholarship from Oregon State University.

While at OSU, Lee played under current 49ers head coach Dennis Erickson. Lee didn’t start, but was an impressive backup. He played in all 13 games in his senior year, including the 2002 Insight.com Bowl against the University of Pittsburgh. He recorded 29 tackles (19 solo; seven for losses), broke up three passes, recovered one fumble and forced another during his senior year.

Lee was drafted in the fifth round of the 2003 NFL draft by the Green Bay Packers. When he was drafted, he could barely contain himself and almost hyperventilated during a conference call with media shortly after his selection.

Lee was drafted by the Packers in the fifth round of the 2003 NFL draft.

“I was so happy and excited to play and to prove that I can play at the next level,” Lee said.

Lee, never more than a few seconds between broad smiles, is full of vigor and energy, according to his aunt-in-law, Paula Schell.

“He’s just the biggest kid in the world,” Schell said. “You couldn’t get him to stop smiling if you slapped him 100 times. And, boy, does he have an appetite. At a barbeque we had a while ago, he must have had several hamburgers, a couple of bowls full of potato salad, several beers. Heck, I can’t even remember what else he ate!”

Lee had a huge setback last year in training camp. He suffered an injury, which sidelined him for the entire 2003 season. Lee had a lower-back inflammation, missed the preseason and was placed on injured reserve. Lee admits to not being in the best shape last year.

“I didn’t come to camp like I should have, I hurt my back, and I had to sit out. So I did the only thing I could do: work,” Lee said.

And work he did. Lee hit the weight room with a fury. For five hours a day, five days a week, he focused on making a full recovery for the 2004 season. And his hard work paid off. He made the active roster as the backup nose tackle.

“I can’t say enough about James, because he stayed here the whole season and was in here every single day working out,” Packers strength and conditioning coach Barry Rubin told Packers.com.

	Lee (jumping) now has his eyes on the ultimate prize: a starting job in the NFL.

Now is the time for Lee to show what he’s made of. In the best shape of his life, he goes for the ultimate prize: a starting NFL position. The Packers are thin at defensive tackle, so they are hoping Lee can fill the void, and so does he.

“I think I can really start for this team,” Lee said. “That’s my goal, anyway. If I can’t, I’ll help out in every way possible.”

Game photos courtesy of College of the Redwoods.