While we’ve covered a number of exciting QB’s join the XFL, through the Tier 1’s, assignments, the Draft and Supplemental Draft. However, it looks like passers are now being signed as free agents, as the Defenders picked up former JMU and CFL QB Vad Lee.
The Defenders announced his signing via Twitter, and he’ll now join a talented QB room that already featured Cardale Jones and Tyree Jackson. Pep Hamilton seems to have refined his QB search to one type of player: smart, athletic and big-armed. Vad Lee fits all of these.
He started off at Georgia Tech, playing well as a dual-threat. He did show room for improvement those two years with 46.2% passing efficiency and a 15-13 TD/INT ratio. In those two years with the Yellow Jackets, he scored 17 TD’s on the ground and rushed for 1000+ yards.
He ended up transferring to JMU, where he moved from a Flexbone/Option attack to a more pass-heavy scheme with the Dukes. There, he showed vast improvement with 5,652 Pass Yards and 51-17 TD/INT. He also radically improved his completion % to 63.3.
Playing in a pass-heavy scheme didn’t mute his running ability either, as he ran for 800+ yards both years at JMU, with 8 and 9 touchdowns respectively.
Vad Lee is a balanced dual-threat QB who has the right tools and football IQ to succeed in the pros. With an unofficial 4.46 40 time and good college production to boot, the Defenders picked up a QB3 with a ton of upside.
It looks like he’s excited to get started, and we’re happy for him and his family. The Defenders continue to make themselves a powerhouse by adding talent across the board.
