Michael Lemon: The Coach's Perspective

NC State has been a fresh start for redshirt junior Michael Lemon. After playing 7 games as a redshirt freshman at the University of Georgia, and being named the Most Improved Defensive End during the '08 Spring Drills, Lemon went through a rough patch, and was asked to leave the team. He played last season with Georgia Military College coach Bert Williams, and it was just what the doctor ordered, to help the young man sort things out. Lemon finished classes in Georgia in May and was all ready to pack his bags, when he found out that he still had to take two more online classes before he left. Due to his academic obligations in Georgia, Lemon showed up 3 weeks after the start of preseason practice, but it didn't take long for people to notice #94. In NC State's season opener on ESPN against South Carolina, Lemon snuck into the flats and intercepted a pass. Since then, he has played 153 snaps behind starting defensive end Shea McKeen. That is the second most snaps behind J.R. Sweezy (156) on the second string defensive line. Through 7 games, Lemon has 11 tackles (2 for loss), 3 quarterback pressures, 1 pass break up and 1 interception. With all four of the starting defensive linemen graduating, Lemon will be counted on heavily next year at the defensive end position.

Recently we had the chance to talk with Georgia Military College head coch Bert Williams about his experience coaching Michael Lemon. Here is what he had to say:

"Michael Lemon is a great young man. He got dealt a tough hand. A lot of people have things they have to deal with, but the personal turmoil that he had to go through with the death of his mother was really tough. When things got rough for him down at the University of Georgia, things kind of snowballed on him. When he got here, he was amazing. I was like 'Golly, how could this guy ever get in a situation that would jeopardize where he was.' His attitude was outstanding every day. He played hurt the entire year."

It was funny when we watched the first game of the year against South Carolina. Michael intercepted two passes for us exactly the same way he did in that game. I wasn't sure at first what number he was, but I saw his body movement and then I saw him make that play, and I said 'That's got to be Lemon.'

He was a guy that went to work every day. He was driven and motivated to get back to the level that he knew he should be playing at. It was a good fit for Michael at NC State. He really liked Coach O'Brien from the first time he met him. He felt really comfortable with the situation up there. Leroy Burgess is a guy that had been here for two years, and I'm sure he spoke with him. Even though they didn't play together, they had a little bit of a kindred spirit. There was no doubt in mind that he was going to be successful once he got up to Raleigh."