Media Day spotlight: Mike Lee

Safety Mike Lee was one of the biggest surprises of the 2016 season for the Kansas Jayhawks. Initially a member of the class of 2017, the four-star New Orleans (LA) Landry Walker product held offers from more than a dozen Division I programs. After head coach David Beaty's staff determined Lee had completed the requirements for NCAA eligibility, the highly-touted prospect reclassified, arriving on Mount Oread last summer.

Just over a year after the start of his college football career, the hard-hitting defensive back talked with JayhawkSlant during KU's annual Media Day event. Lee broke down the Kansas receiving core, and revealed which of the Jayhawks skill position players is the biggest trash talker during practice.

After starting eight games last season and earning Freshman All-American honors from Rivals.com, Lee has established himself as a leader of the KU defense, as well as a face of Beaty's rebuilding efforts. Lee explained the impact co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach Clint Bowen has had on his game, and why a New Orleans native can feel at home in Lawrence.

Beaty spoke highly of Lee's development when he addressed the media on Saturday. "I'm hard on Mike because I don't want to see him sophomore flop," the third-year head coach said of his talented safety. "That's what happens. When you play as a freshman, all you guys are going to tell him how good he is, everybody in the world is going to tell him how good he is, and the truth is he's not very good yet. But he's getting there."

"He is going to be good. He just ain't good yet. He's going to be really good. He's shown flashes. His big deal is not to believe it. His deal is to know where he really is and what he has to do to continue to get better"