AR-140829716 When redshirt senior Khari Lee enrolled as a freshman at Bowie State University, he was considered a football project: A raw and talented player that had yet to tap into his full potential.

Now, entering what could be his final year of organized football, the Western Tech High School graduate is considered the best tight ends in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (he was named first team All-CIAA in 2013 and a 2014 preseason pick) and one of the top players in all of Division II college football.

“[Bowie State coach Damon Wilson] gave me a chance,” said Lee, who added that he started playing the sport at age 7 as a running back for the Pikesville Wildcats. “All my success — I actually got cut from my high school team freshman year — all the praise goes to my coaches that stayed on top of me and pushed me to realize my potential.”

Lee, who caught 34 passes for 352 yards and a touchdown last fall, has improved each year in the Bulldogs offense. Listed at 6-foot-4 and 235 pounds, Lee, a finance major that is interested a career in real estate or financial advising, said he wasn’t heavily recruited out of Baltimore County and chose to walk-on at Bowie State due to affordable tuition.

“Khari is the reason you coach college football,” said Wilson READ FULL AT Gazzette