NFF National Scholar-Athletes
Justin Lea, OL – Jacksonville State University
Emergency Management & Geography – 3.92 GPA
Head Coach: John Grass | Athletics Director: Greg Seitz
Faculty Athletics Representative: Maureen Newton
Described as “a man of character” by head coach John Grass, Justin Lea graduated in 3.5 years with a double major while anchoring Jacksonville State’s dominant offensive line. The Henagar, Ala., native deservedly becomes the Gamecocks’ first-ever NFF National Scholar-Athlete.
A 2016 Second Team Academic All-American and two-time Academic All-District selection, Lea graduated in December 2016 with a remarkable 3.92 GPA while majoring in both emergency management and geography. Currently studying public administration in graduate school, he is a three-time recipient of the Ohio Valley Conference Academic Medal of Honor, and he was named to the OVC Commissioner’s Honor Roll in each of his four seasons.
This season, Lea leads an offense that is first in the OVC in scoring with 28.8 points per game and total offense with 371.4 yards per game. The No. 3 Gamecocks boast a 7-1 record (5-0 in conference) and have surpassed 350 yards in six of their eight games in 2017.
Named an All-American by HERO Sports in 2016, Lea has started every game of his career since his freshman year and has appeared at every position on the offensive line. The two-time all-conference selection has led an offense that has posted three consecutive seasons of more than 5,000 total yards, including a school-record 7,613 in 2015. Behind Lea’s blocking, Jacksonville State has surpassed 600 yards in eight games and finished fourth in the FCS in total offense in both 2015 and 2014. Guiding the Gamecocks to an appearance in the 2015 FCS National Championship game, he also helped the team to the second round of the playoffs as a junior and freshman. A Freshman All-American in 2014, Lea earned Second Team All-OVC honors that season en route to being named the conference’s Freshman of the Year.
Receiving practical training in his degree field, Lea volunteered for six months with the Talladega County Emergency Management Agency and worked alongside fire departments and other first responders in the Emergency Operation Center at a Talladega NASCAR race in 2015 to develop a training curriculum. On campus, he was a teacher’s assistant in Jacksonville State’s physical and earth sciences department and served as a student lab instructor. Lea also participated in food drives and led the football team’s service efforts at a home for adults with special needs.
All stats as of Nov. 1, 2017.
